


OK 

iumois 





A STUDENT'S HISTORY 
OF ILLINOIS 



BY 
GEORGE W. SMITH, M.A., 

Department of History and Geography, State Normal School, 

Carbondale, Illinois. Member Board of Directors 

The Illinois State Historical Society 



BLOOMINGTON: 

Pantagraph Printing and Stationery Co. 

for the author 

1906 



.SgS" 



UBRARY of CONGRESS 
T we CopiM Received 

SEP 24 1906 

/lOtnmffit Entry 
eut^T ^ XXe., N*. 

COPY B. '' 



Copyright by 

George W. Smith 

1906 



TO THE MEMORY 

OF 
My Father and Mother, 

STEPHEN SMITH and SALLIE M. SMITH, 

Pioneers in this Great Commonwealth, 
This Volume is Affectionately 

DEDICATED. 



Carbondale, Illinois 
September 15, 1906. 



CONTENTS. 



Chapter 

I. 

II. 

III. 

IV. 

V. 

VI. 

VII. 

VIII. 

IX. 

X. 

XI. 

XII. 

XIII. 
XIV. 

XV. 

XVI. 

XVII. 

XVIII. 

XIX. 

XX. 

XXI. 

XXII. 

XXIII. 

XXIV. 

XXV. 

XXVI. 

XXVII. 

XXVIII. 

XXIX. 

XXX. 

XXXI. 



Introduction . . . . 
Illinois— Its Resources and Its People 
Illinois a Part oe the Royal Grants 
The French in the Valley of the St. . 

Lawrence 

Discovery of Mississippi by Marquette . 

and Joliet ...... 

The Triumphs of Chevalier De La Salle 
Permanent Settlements in Illinois 
Government in Illinois from 1700 to 1765 

A Brief Survey 

The British in the Illinois Country 
George Rogers Clark Captures Kaskaskia 
The British Flag Lowered at Cahokia . 

AND VlNCENNES 

Clark's Capture of Vincennes . 
Illinois County, Virginia — The Coming . 
of John Todd ...... 

Organization of the Northwest Territory 

Illinois a Part of the Indiana Territory 

Illinois Territory 

Illinois Territory 

A Retrospect .... 

Illinois a State — The Enabling Act 

Governor Shadrach Bond . 

The English Prairie Settlement 

A Pioneer Industry 

A Great Struggle 

Last Half of Governor Coles' Term 

Ninian Edwards, Governor 

Expansion 

A Pioneer Governor 
The Black Hawk War 
Governor Duncan— State Banking 
Martyrdom of Lovejoy 



Page 

1 

6 

20 

25 

33 

45 
57 
72 
82 
86 
93 

104 
111 

119 
124 
136 
144 
153 
160 
171 
182 
193 
202 
208 
224 
236 
244 
257 
263 
284 
296 



No claim is made that this volume is based on original research. The 
author has, however, been quite diligent along- this line of work for the past 
several years. The knowledge thus obtained has been interwoven with the 
story as related by recognized authorities, and it is sincerely believed that the 
facts as given herein can be relied upon. 



Contents. 



VII 



Chapter Page 

XXXII. Illinois and Michigan Canal . . . 314 

XXXIII. Internal Improvement .... 320 

XXXIV. Administration of Governor Carlin . 333 
XXXV. Another Short Retrospect . . . 340 

XXXVI. Thos. Ford, Governor . . 352 

XXXVII. The Story of the Mormons . . . 356 

XXXVIII. FI.ATHEADS AND REGULATORS . . . 372 

XXXIX. Governor French 376 

XL,. The Illinois Central Railroad . . 388 

XL,I. A New Banking System .... 398 

XL,II. Governor Matteson 402 

XIvIII. A Short Chapter on Illinois Politics . 414 

XL,IV. A Republican Governor .... 421 

XL/V. Administration of Gov. John Wood . . 435 

XL/VI. On the Eve of a Great Conflict . . 437 

XL, VII. A Son of Illinois 445 

XI/VIII. Governor Yates— Illinois in the Civil War 455 

XL,IX. Some Phases of the War .... 473 

L,. Governor Oglesby — Close of the Civil War 482 

Iyl. Governor John M. Palmer . . . 490 

L,II. Governor John L,. Beveridge . . . 499 

L/III. Administration of Governor Cullom . 502 

L/IV. Governor John M. Hamilton . . . 507 

L/V. Joseph Fifer, Governor .... 511 

L/VI. Governor John P. Altgeld . . . 516 

L/VII. Governor John R. Tanner . . . 521 

L/VIII. Richard Yates, Governor . . . 524 

L,IX. Governor Charles S. Deneen . . . 528 

L,X. Three Great Industries . . *. . . 530 

The following authorities have been freely consulted: 
Name Author 

History of Illinois ..... Brown 

Negro Servitude in Illinois .... Harris 

The Illini ....... Carr 

Rise and Fall of the Slave Power in America . Wilson 

Publications of Illinois State Historical Society 

New Gazetteer of Illinois .... Peck 

History and Geography of the Mississippi Valley . Flint 

Politics and Politicians ..... Lusk 

Illinois in 1837 ..... Ellsworth 

History of the Presbyterian Church in Illinois . Norton 



VIII 



Contents. 



Name Author 

Chapters from Illinois History . . . Mason 

Early History of Illinois .... Breese 

Indiana, Commonwealth Series . . . Dunn 

History of Illinois ..... Ford 

History of the People of the United States . McMaster 

Narrative and Critical History of America . . Winsor 

Annals of the American Pulpit . . . Sprague 

Illinois Historical Collection . ... Beckwith 

Early Western Travels. Vol. X, XI, XII . . Thwaites 

Money and Banking- ..... White 

Illinois Directory ..... Montague 

My Own Times ..... Reynolds 

Sketch of Edward Coles .... Washbume 

Illinois Historical and Statistical . . . Moses 

Publication McEean County Historical Society. 
Illinois Blue Books ..... Rose 

Report, Illinois Board World's Fair Commissioners. 



History of Illinois 

Historic Highways .... 

Adam W. Snyder in Illinois History 

The Old North West 

Virginia, Commonwealth Series 

Revised Statutes of Illinois. 

Historic Illinois .... 

The Pioneer History of Illinois 

Atlas of Illinois .... 

Eife of Eincoln .... 

Eife of Eincoln .... 

Historical Map of Illinois 

Black Hawk War .... 

Eife of Douglas .... 

Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois 

European Settlements on the Mississippi River 

Western Annals .... 

Old 'Kaskia Days .... 

Publications of Fergus Printing Co., Chicago. 

Session Eaws of Illinois. 

County Histories. 

State Reports. 

Private Correspondence, etc. 

American Archives and State Papers. 



Davidson & Stuve 

Hulbert 

. Snyder 

. Hinsdale 

Scudder 



Parrish 

Reynolds 

Warner & Beers 

Nicolay & Hay 

Tarbell 

. Blanchard 

Stevens 

Gardner 

Bateman & Selby 

Pit tin an 

Peck 

Holbrook 



CHAPTER I. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



The richest heritage which shall ever come into our pos- 
session is the simple story of the struggles, the sacrifices, and 
the triumphs of the men and women — our fore-parents — 
who planted in this western wilderness the home, the school, 
the church, and the State. 

We shall never know that story in all its fullness and com- 
pleteness. For the noble men and women who opened up the 
way for civilization in all this western country, have long since 
gone to their reward, and they have left meager accounts of all 
the vicissitudes through which they passed when "wilderness 
was king." 

We may never realize, fully, what it meant for the men 
and women of a century or more ago to leave comfortable 
homes, devoted friends and relatives, the associations of child- 
hood, aye, the graves of their dead, and take up their weary 
march over mountains, across streams, through trackless for- 
ests, to plant new homes in a wilderness inhabited by wild 
beasts and wilder men. 

It is the purpose of this little volume to reveal a portion of 
that story to our people, and especially to the boys and girls 
while they are yet free from the cares of the graver responsi- 
bilities of life. If these young people shall ever come into 
possession of their inheritance, we may not fear for the future 
of our homes nor for the destiny of the State. 

The tendency of those who gather up the history of a 
state or of a nation is to put much stress upon the political 
movements and greatly to neglect the other phases of a people's 
life. As individuals and as a people we do not have very defi- 



2 A Student's History of Illinois. 

nite notions of the march of progress in the social life of our 
people; nor of the industrial movement which has revolu- 
tionized all kinds of labor. Likewise we find it difficult to 
formulate definite notions of our religious and educational 
advancement. 

But it ought not so to be. We ought to be as deeply inter- 
ested in the unfolding of our industrial life as in the evolu- 
tion of our political history. What could be more profitable, 
and what more charming than the story of the progressive 
steps by which our home life has moved away from the one 
room log cabin with its chinks and daub, its puncheon floor, 
its open fireplace, its stick chimney, its whitewashed walls, and 
its creaky door upon its wooden hinges ? 




Spinning Wheel, Spool Frame, and Warping Bars. 

This story may yet be preserved, in part at least, for there 
are people now living in our midst who remember the hand 



A Student's History of Illinois. 3 

cards, the spinning wheel, the reel, the walking frame, the 
dull thud of the loom, as hour by hour the mother toiled in 
the mystery of shuttle, and sley, and treadle, and harness, 
and warp, and woof. The oldest inhabitant remembers vividly 
the shaving horse, the shoemaker's kit, the shuck collar, the 
wooden mold-board, the chain traces, the broadaxe, the sugar 
camp, the reap-hook, the whipsaw, the flail, and the water 
gristmill. 

And we need only to rummage the attic of the old home- 
stead to find the gourd, the piggin, the powder-horn, the 
bullet-moulds, the hackle, the candlestick, the swingling knife, 
the candle-moulds, the split bottomed chair, and the cradle. 

And who has not heard of the campmeeting with its mys- 
terious conversions, its powerful sermons, its prolonged pray- 
ers, its stories of men who came to scoff but remained to pray ? 
Did you ever hear the hymns lined? Did you ever hear the 
tune pitched? Did you know that this faithful preacher had 
toiled hard all week at farm work, and studied his bible at 
night in order to be able to shepherd his flock on Sunday? 
Did you know the church finances were never "embarrassed" 
in those early days? There are those in nearly every neigh- 
borhood who carry in a sacred corner of their memory the 
story of the early church. They say little about those clays. 
But they will tell you quietly this beautiful story of devotion 
and sacrifice. 

And what shall we say of the pedagogue of a hundred 
years ago ? He was like the seasons — he came and went. He 
had no settled home. He taught his school in some abandoned 
building and "boarded 'round." There were no school-book 
trusts, and no school-furniture combines in those dreamy days. 
There were no county superintendents to refuse certificates, 
and no school journals to furnish methods and devices. But 
notwithstanding the meager material equipment of the schools, 
and the lack of intellectual preparation in the teacher, there 
was yet a constant movement toward better things. And if 



4 A Student's History of Illinois. 

there was a lack of scientific methods in the educational pro- 
cesses, there was compensation in the moral and spiritual vigor 
instilled into the young people of that day. What a charming 
thing it would he to re-live this life with grandfather and 
grandmother! Who would not enjoy going back to the old 
homestead even though it be in imagination only. 




A Home-made Loom Used in Weaving Carpets. 



To the writer it has seemed not inappropriate to attempt 
to gather up and put into convenient form this simple story 
of our wonderful growth and development. His parents were 
immigrants in the early ? 30's, and the story of the life of those 
days as it came from father and mother is a blessed memory. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 5 

This traditional knowledge has been supplemented by a lim- 
ited amount of original investigation, but the chief reliance 
has been placed in the published histories to which the writer 
has had access. 

The illustrations have been secured after much research 
and at no little expense, and it is hoped they may be found to 
be of true historical merit. 




A Wheel More than J 50 Years Old, Used in Spinning Flax. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



CHAPTER II. 

ILLINOIS— ITS RESOURCES AND ITS PEOPLE. 

1. Boundary. — The State of Illinois lies between 87 de- 
grees and 35 minutes, and 91 degrees and 40 minutes, west 
longitude; and between latitude 36 degrees and 59 minutes, 
and 42 degrees and 30 minutes, north. 

The constitutional boundary as given in the enabling act 
which authorized the making of the constitution of 1818, is as 
follows : 

Beginning at the mouth of the Wabash river; thence up the 
same, and with the line of Indiana, to the northwest corner of said 
State; thence east with the line of the same State to the middle of 
Lake Michigan ; thence north along the middle of said lake, to north 
latitude 42 degrees 30 minutes; thence west to the middle of the 
Mississippi river ; and thence down along the middle of that river to 
its confluence with the Ohio river ; and thence up the latter river 
along its northwestern shore, to the beginning. 

2. Area. — The boundary of Illinois is quite irregular on 
two sides, and yet the area has been accurately determined to 
be 56,650 square miles. In comparison with other states of 
the Union, it is smaller than the average which is 60,434 
square miles. Illinois surpasses in area any one of a dozen 
independent European countries. 

3. The Surface. — Illinois has been called the Prairie 
State. It lies in what geographers call the great central plain. 
Its surface is quite uniform in elevation. The lowest point 
is Cairo whose low-water mark is 268 feet above sea level ; the 
highest point, Charles Mound, is 1257 feet in elevation and 
is found in Jo Daviess county, on the Wisconsin line. 

The general slope of the land is toward the south and 
southwest, the rivers all flowing in that general direction. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 7 

Through the State in a northeasterly and southwesterly direc- 
tion, there runs a water-shed which separates the rivers which 
flow into the Mississippi from those flowing into the Wabash 
and the Ohio. It has its southern end in Union county and 
passes thence through Williamson, Jefferson, Marion, Fayette, 
Effingham, Shelby, Coles, Douglas, Champaign, and Ford 
where it ends, being intersected by the Kankakee river. This 
divide corresponds quite closely with what in earlier days was 
called the "Grand Prairie." 

4. Glaciated and Unglaciated Areas. — The surface for- 
mation is known as the glaciated and unglaciated regions. 
There is a southern unglaciated area. This region includes 
all south of a line drawn from Chester in Randolph county 
southeasterly and then northeasterly through Randolph 
county, Jackson, Williamson, Saline, Gallatin, and White. 
This line marks the farthest southward reach of the first ice- 
sheet which invaded Illinois from the regions beyond the Great 
Lakes. Just to the south of this line is a high range of hills 
which locally are known as the Ozarks. They trend east and 
west through Jackson, Union, Johnson Pope, Saline, Galla- 
tin, and Hardin counties. 

In the northwestern part of the State there is a second 
unglaciated area in the counties of Jo Daviess, Carroll, and 
Stephenson. There are also traces in Pike and Calhoun of an- 
other such area. 

All the rest of the State is known as the glaciated area. 
This glaciated portion of the State presents two regions — one 
which was subject to two glacial invasions, and another which 
was covered by the first invasion only. That part of the State 
which was subject to two invasions lies north and east of a 
line starting at Paris, Edgar county, aud running west, north- 
west, and north through Macon, DeWitt, Tazewell, Peoria, 
Marshall, Bureau, Lee, DeKalb, and Henry counties. The 
glaciated area south and west of this line was covered by but 
one ice-sheet. 



8 A Student's History of Illinois. 

5. Soils. — Illinois has always been regarded as an agri- 
cultural state, although it may claim high rank as a mining 
and manufacturing state. Its generally regular surface fits 
it for agriculture. Its rainfall and its annual temperature 
supplement its surface and soils and all combine to offer un- 
surpassed advantages to the agriculturalist. 

There are three sources of the soil in this State. First we 
have what is called the residuary soil. This is the soil that 
resulted from the decay of the original rock layers. It has 
never been greatly disturbed, and is occupying the place for- 
merly occupied by the rocks from which it was made. It is 
probable that at one time before the visit of the first ice-sheet, 
that the entire State was overlaid with thick layers of resid- 
uary soil. 

Another kind is that which came from the first ice-sheet. 
This ice-sheet brought into the State very great quantities 
of waste material from the regions around and beyond the 
Lakes. This was left scattered over the State covering the 
residuary soil several feet in depth. This deposit of glacial 
drift soon weathered and with the addition of humus made a 
black and rich prairie soil. After the disappearance of the 
first ice-sheet and when the waste material had been made into 
soil, there was a thick deposit over the surface of loess. This 
deposit of loess covered not only the glacial soil but also the 
residuary soil. 

After many thousands of years there was a second ice in- 
vasion which reached as far south and west as the line traced 
west and north from Paris. This second invasion left upon 
the loess beds a second glacial layer of waste several feet thick. 

We thus have soil whose source is the residuary rocks (the 
area being very limited), soil from the loess deposits, and that 
from the last ice-sheet in the northeastern counties. 

6. Climate. — It is said that in California they sell the cli- 
mate and give away the land, but in Illinois we sell the land 
and throw in the climate for good measure. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 9 

Illinois lies between the isotherm of 55 on the south and 
47 on the north. The State is well watered. The number of 
inches of rainfall is about 40 for the south end of the State 
and decreases toward the north. The source of the rainfall 
is chiefly the revolving storms which reach us from the north- 
west ; these turning to the northeast pass across Indiana and 
Ohio and leave the continent along the St. Lawrence river. 

7. Timbered Areas. — As has been said, Illinois is called 
the Prairie State. From this we are not to conclude that 
there is or was no timber in the State, for in many counties 
there yet remain large areas of timbered land. When Illinois 
was first seen by the white men more than one-fourth of this 
State was covered with forests. 

Throughout all the counties bordering the Wabash, the 
Ohio, and to some extent the Mississippi, there have been cut 
large quantities of timber. The early settlers found "board 
trees" in sufficient abundance to furnish clapboards for the 
roofs of their houses; and often the weather-boarding and 
the lathing were rived out of oak trees. 

Sawmills were quite plentiful, at a later date, in all the 
older settled localities. There were, it is true, many puncheon 
floors, and seats, and tables, but later the sawed product re- 
placed the cruder kinds. Houses are yet to be found serving 
as residences which were weather-boarded with poplar, gum, 
or black walnut, sawed in the neighborhood from native trees. 

Indeed many an attic, as has been mentioned, holds evi- 
dences of a former activity in the manufacture of home-made 
furniture, such as tables, chairs, chests, cradles, spinning 
wheels, and looms. These were constructed from a very fine 
grade of black walnut, ash, poplar, gum, or hard maple. 

Again, all the farm houses as well as those of the villages 
and towns of early days were made of logs. All fencing was 
with rails or brush in the early settling of the country. Lin- 
coln split rails near Decatur in the winter of 1830-1 with 
which to fence his father's little farm. There are today miles 



10 A Student's History of Illinois. 

and miles of rail fences in more than one county in the State. 

Among the forest trees we find oak, maple, black-walnut, 
ash, sycamore, hickory, hackberry, elm, gum, birch, chestnut, 
pecan, locust, wild cherry, Cottonwood, poplar, basswood, mul- 
berry, etc. There were exhibited at the World's Columbian 
Exposition samples of the native woods of the State. This 
display showed twenty-four genera with seventy-five species 
of indigenous growths in Illinois. 

Considerable interest has been shown in recent years in 
the cultivation of timber and despite the fact that there has 
been a great waste of our forest trees, there now remain twen- 
ty-three counties in the northern part of the State with 7 per 
cent of wood lands; twenty-one counties along the Illinois 
river with 15 per cent; seventeen counties toward the eastern 
part of the State with 6 per cent ; seventeen counties with 24 
per cent; thirteen counties in the Kaskaskia district with 21 
per cent; and the remaining eleven counties with 27 per cent 
of wood lands. This gives an average of 17 per cent for the 
entire State which is a loss of about 8 per cent since the com- 
ing of the whites to the State. 

8. Prairie Areas. — Illinois did not present to the early set- 
tlers an unbroken expanse of prairie land; and while 75 per 
cent of its area was known as prairie, yet it was found in 
smaller areas partially surrounded by timber which followed 
the streams up to their sources and often projected out into 
the prairie portions. 

"Grand Prairie" mentioned above was the largest area of 
timberless land. Peck's Gazetteer published in 1837 says of 
this region : 

It does not consist of one vast tract, boundless to the vision, and 
uninhabitable for want of timber; but is made up of continuous 
tracts, with points of timber projecting inward, and long arms of 
prairie extending between the creeks and small streams. . . .No por- 
tion of it is more than six or eight miles distant from timber, and 
coal in abundance is found in various parts. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 11 

Settlements and small prairies often took the same name. 
To illustrate we may mention Allen's Prairie, in Greene 
county, a settlement, ten miles northeast of Carrollton ; Bar- 
ney's Prairie, a settlement in Wabash county; Bear Prairie 
in Wayne ; Canton Prairie in Fulton ; Diamond Grove Prairie 
in Morgan; Four Mile Prairie in Perry; Fourteen Mile 
Prairie in Effingham; Long Prairie in Jefferson; Ogle's 
Prairie in St. Clair; Salt Creek Settlement (Prairie) in 
Mason; Sand Prairie in Tazewell; Seven Mile Prairie in 
White; Wait's Settlement (Prairie) in Bond, etc. 

So also settlements, and points of timber which projected 
into the prairies frequently took on the same name. A few 
examples will suffice. Bailey's Point, a settlement in LaSalle 
county fourteen miles southeast of Ottawa; Blue Point in 
Effingham ; Muddy Point in Coles ; Piper's Point in Greene ; 
Vancil's Point in Macoupin ; Brown's Point in Morgan. 

9. Coal. — Illinois lies in one of the greatest coal fields on 
the continent. About 37,000 square miles of the State are un- 
derlaid with a rich deposit of bituminous coal. In the region 
north of a line drawn from Rock Island eastward through 
Ottawa, there is little if any coal. So also a strip adjacent to 
the Mississippi river is destitute of coal, while little or none 
is found south of the Ozarks. The remainder of the State is 
abundantly supplied. The deposits are found in horizontal 
layers of varying thickness from a few inches to 10, 12, or 15 
feet. In many places these layers of coal crop out along bluffs 
or streams, but usually the coal is taken from veins which lie 
from 50 to 500 feet below the surface. 

10. Lead. — As early as 1700, LeSeuer, a French trader, 
discovered lead in what is now Jo Daviess county. By 1743 
there were twenty miners working in the mines; by 1825, 
100 miners were taking out lead. From this date to the Civil 
War the industry was actively carried on, but when the war 
came on it is claimed at least one-tenth of the population of 
Jo Daviess went into the army and the mining industry was 



12 A Student's History of Illinois. 

greatly crippled. It is estimated that the entire output of 
lead ore up to the close of the last century, taken from the 
mines in Jo Daviess county was worth $40,000,000. Zinc and 
silver are also found in that region but no systematic effort 
has been made to produce these metals in paying quantities. 

11. Clay. — Clay for the manufacture of common brick is 
found everywhere in the State. But fire clay and potter's clay 
while found in large quantities are restricted to a few locali- 
ties. At Monmouth in Warren county, there are large deposits 
of potter's clay, and extensive works are located at that place. 
At White Hall in Greene county, and at Macomb in McDon- 
ough county, are also large deposits. Several large factories 
are in operation at these points for the manufacture of pot- 
ter's ware, drain tile, sewer pipe, and fire brick. One plant 
has a capital of $350,000 and employs 30 men. Near Anna 
in Union county, potter's clay is found. The manufacture of 
potter's ware has been carried on here but not with marked 
success. Clays of varying qualities are found in other parts 
of the State from which terra cotta, vases, paving bricks, etc., 
are made. 

12. Kaolin. — This highly valuable mineral is found in 
large quantities in Union county. Large quantities have been 
shipped east and probably to Europe. It has been analyzed 
and found to contain the following elements : 

Silicic acid 51.71 

Titanic acid trace 

Alumina acid 32.75 

Oxide of iron 1.93 

Lime 0.53 

Magnesia 0.19 

Potash 0.96 

Soda 0.24 

Water and organic matter 11.69 

Total 100 per cent. 

Previous to the World's Fair at Chicago, a sample of the 
Union county kaolin was sent to Stockholm, Sweden, where 



A Student's History of Illinois. 13 

it was analyzed as given above. The Hon. Robert Almstrom, 
Director of the Rorstrand Porcelain Works of the above city, 
manufactured from this kaolin beautiful dishes of white and 
decorated designs. These articles are said to be the only white 
table-ware ever made from Illinois materials. 

13. Fluor Spar.— This rare and valuable substance is 
found in abundance in Hardin county, and probably on the 
borders of Pope. The mine at Rosiclare on the Ohio river in 
Hardin county is said to be the only place where the mineral 
is found in North America. Large companies are now or- 
ganized for the purpose of putting this product of the mines 
on the market. The business has already proved very remun- 
erative, and Rosiclare has truly the air of a prosperous west- 
ern mining town. The spar has beautiful bluish and pinkish 
tints and is said to be of a very high grade. 

14. Iron. — Iron exists in paying quantities in several of 
the counties of southeastern Illinois along the Ohio river. In 
1837 an extensive reducing plant was erected in Hardin county 
and pig-iron was produced in large quantities till about 1860. 
Since that time the industry has languished and today noth- 
ing is being done along that line, but companies are being 
organized for the purpose of renewing the iron industry. 

15. Petroleum. — Oil was early discovered in the south 
half of the State, but no effort has been made until within re- 
cent years to produce oil in paying quantities. At the present 
writing, however, there are scores of wells which are quite 
productive in the counties adjacent to the Wabash river, while 
borings are being made in several interior counties in that 
section with good prospects of oil in abundance. Natural gas 
also is found in the south end of the State but the wells are 
not to be depended on for constant supply. 

16. Building Stone.— Illinois is well supplied with build- 
ing stone. The chief kinds are limestone and sandstone. 
There is a great variety of limestone. Extensive quarries 
have been worked at Alton, Chester, Grafton, Joliet, Nauvoo, 



14 A Student's History of Illinois. 

and at other points in the north and northwest portion of the 
State. Much of this limestone is quarried for building pur- 
poses. It is also now used as a component part of the mate- 
rial employed in the fertilization of soils. Lime and cement 
are also made from these rocks in various parts of the State. 

Sandstone is found throughout the region of the Ozarks 
and is of an excellent quality for building material. Some 
forty years ago great quarries were opened, and several large 
buildings were erected in Chicago out of this sandstone but it 
was soon found that buildings were not of uniform color and 
the demand for the stone ceased. 

17. Water-Ways. — Xo state in the union has a more 
magnificent system of water-ways than has Illinois. The Mis- 
sissippi river marks its western boundary. The entire length 
of the Mississippi river bordering the State is about 550 miles; 
the Ohio and Wabash furnish nearly 300 miles of river front ; 
while Lake Michigan bathes 60 miles of the northeastern 
shore. Within the State we have quite a number of streams 
which though not furnishing navigation are yet streams of 
considerable value. In the future all these streams may be 
serviceable for navigation. 

We have flowing into the Mississippi river, out of the State 
of Illinois, the Eock river, the Illinois, the Kaskaskia, and the 
Big Muddy. Into the Wabash and the Ohio there flow the 
Big Vermilion, the Embarras, the Little Wabash, the Saline, 
and the Cache. The Illinois river receives from the east the 
Kankakee, the Vermilion, the Mackinaw, the Sangamon, and 
Macoupin ; while from the north and west it receives the Des 
Plaines, the Fox, and the Spoon. 

18. Agriculture. — A state with such fertile soil, abundant 
rainfall, perfect drainage, equable climate, etc., as we have 
seen Illinois possesses, is destined to be a great agricultural 
region. In 1900 near the entire State, excepting the timbered 
areas, was in cultivation. The value of all farm property was 
over $2,000,000,000. The chief crops for that year were 



A Student's History of Illinois. 15 

wheat, oats, corn, hay, rye, and barley. Illinois produced 60,- 
000,000 of the 90,000,000, pounds of broom corn grown in the 
United States. The vegetable crop was worth over $10,- 
000,000, while the apple crop for 1900 was more than 9,000,- 
000 bushels. 

19. Production of Coal. — As has been previously stated 
between thirty and forty thousand square miles of the surface 
of the State are underlaid with coal. Its deposit so near the 
surface and the excellent transportation facilities make it easy 
for Illinois to rank second in the production of soft coal. In 
190-4 there were mined over 37,000,000 tons of coal. This 
sold at the mines at prices ranging from 37 cents to $1.35 
per ton. The number of mines is now more than 900 with an 
employment of 54,000 hands. 

20. Commerce. — A State so rich in agricultural produc- 
tions and in mineral resources must of necessity have good 
commercial facilities. Great crops of food products must be 
moved from the agricultural districts to those sections of the 
country where the production is much below the consumption. 
So also the great output of coal must find the furnaces and 
the great factories of the country. Again a great population 
engaged in agriculture, mining, and manufacturing must be 
supplied with products from other regions of the earth. 

We are not disappointed therefore when we turn our at- 
tention to the transportation facilities of this State. No state 
in the Union presents such slight obstacles to railroad building 
as does the "Prairie State." 

The Illinois Central railroad is said to have cost but $20.- 
000 per mile. This is very greatly below the average cost of 
railroad building in the United States. The State is now 
checkered with railroads, there being above 11,000 miles 
within the State. The commercial facilities offered by the 
railroads are supplemented by many hundreds of miles of 
navigable rivers to which we must add all the advantages 
which the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence river offer. 



16 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



21. Indians. — There were several Indian tribes, residing 
in Illinois when the first whites came. The most important 
tribe was a large one called the Illinois Indians. This tribe 
was in fact a confederacy of several tribes. The Illinois con- 
federacy included, the Michigamies, Kaskaskias, the Kahokias, 
the Peorias, and the Tamaroas. There were beside these tribes 
the Sacs and Foxes, the Winnebagoes, the Kickapoos, the 
Piankishaws, the Pottowatomies, and the Shawnees. In gen- 
eral, the tribes were distributed as follows : The Illinois had 
possession of the upper parts of the river by that name ; the 
S,acs and Foxes were in the northern part of the State; the 
Pottowatomies, to the west of Lake Michigan; the Winne- 
bagoes, in the north part of the State ; the Miamis and Pianki- 
shaws, in the eastern part; the Shawnees, around the mouth 
of the Wabash. 

It should be remembered that few tribes remained perma- 
nently in one locality, and thus it will happen that a map of 




Monks Mound, a Noted Mound of the Mound-builders' Type, northeast of 

East St. Louis, a few miles in the American Bottom. It covers 

fifteen acres and is \ 00 feet high. 



distribution for one decade will not give the location of tribes 
in the following decades. It was the Illinois confederacy that 



A Student's History of Illinois. 17 

our fore-fathers had most to do with in the settlements on 
the Illinois river and about the Ivaskaskia river. 

22. Prehistoric. — Few states are richer in the remains 
of a long continued prehistoric occupation than is Illinois. 
Among the evidences of Indians who probably greatly ante- 
dated those whom the French found here in 1763, are stone 
implements, various kinds of pottery, pictures on rocks and 
bluffs, and mounds, forts, etc. 

Many of our people have made very fine collections of all 
kinds of stone tools, such as stone axes, hammers, dressing 
tools, ornaments, and ceremonial stones, and stone imple- 
ments used in games and in war. Stone idols, pipes, and other 
objects are found in the State. Simple copper ornaments are 
also found. 




An Indian Buffalo Painted on a Bluff near New Burnside, Johnson County. 

Several very fine collections of pottery have been gathered 
together. Gallatin county seems especially rich in pottery 
ware of a very ancient date. 



18 A Student's History of Illinois. 

In a number of places where bluffs are exposed, a former 
race has' carved or painted on such bluffs pictures of various 
objects, usually animals, and in some cases undecipherable 
figures. Perhaps the most noticeable of these was the Piasa 
bird which will be described later on. Another figure of in- 
terest is the "Indian Buffalo" in Johnson county. 

But probably the most marked objects which point to a 
forgotten people are the mounds which are to be found scat- 
tered over the State. The most noted are those in the Ameri- 
can Bottom near the city of East St. Louis ; however, similar 
mounds are found distributed over the State. In these 
mounds have been found pottery, cloth, cords, seeds including 
ears of corn, copper ornaments, etc. 

23. The People. — The most valuable asset of any com- 
monwealth is its people. The soil may be fertile, the rainfall 
abundant, the temperature equable, but if the people have not 
been cast in the right kind of mould then the commonwealth 
is poor indeed. The first whites — the French — added very 
little to the sum total of the institutional life in Illinois. 
There is not a single great enterprise in the State which the 
French founded. The civil government of the State was 
planted in the very midst of the old French life, but it bears 
no marks of French influence ; everything about our political 
and civil institutions savors of the Anglo-Saxon. After the 
French, the first whites to come into the State were the sol- 
diers who came with George Rogers Clark. Many of these 
were from the Carolinas and Virginia, with short residences 
in Tennessee and Kentucky. Not a few of these eventually 
settled in the territory which their valor and sacrifice had 
won. In addition, there were among Clark's soldiers a few 
people from the middle Atlantic States. Later immigrants 
came from all the Atlantic sea-board states. 

Following the war of 1812, large numbers of immigrants 
from England came to this country, and not a few of these 
finally reached the rich prairies of Illinois. Germans came in 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



19 



groups large enough to constitute neighborhoods of those 
sturdy people. 

From 1836 to the Civil War there was a great demand in 
Illinois for laborers, for great improvements were in progress 
in those years. This demand was met by the coming of large 
numbers of English, Irish, Scotch, Dutch, Germans, and a 
few Scandinavians. 

It is out of these elements that we have produced the Illini 
— the real men. To this end everything has contributed — 
earth, and air, and sky, and parent stock. It is the story of 
these "real men" which we wish humbly to sketch. It is not 
only the story of battle field, and senate chamber, and com- 
mercial world, and letters, and courts, and invention, we wish 
to tell, but the story as well of the humbler people in the 
humbler walks of a fast fading pioneer life. 





HON. BENAIAH G. ROOTS. 
Prominent in the Introduction of the 
Graded School System and in Estab- 
lishing the State University. 



MISS FRANCES E. WILLARD. 

Educator, Lecturer, and Author. She 

spent a large part of a busy 

life in Illinois. 



20 A Student's History of Illinois. 



CHAPTEE III. 

ILLINOIS A PART OF THE ROYAL GRANTS. 

24. Early Voyages. — The English claim to territory in 
America was based upon the discoveries of the Cabots. 

The voyages of the Cabots were made in 1497 and in 1498. 
The regions visited by these navigators have never been defi- 
nitely located, but it is generally understood that they ex- 
amined the Atlantic coast from Newfoundland, south to 
Florida. 

Whatever doubt there may be as to the truth of these dis- 
coveries or explorations, there is no doubt as to England's 
claim to territory in North America. It was based on the 
supposed voyages described above. 

Little interest seems to have been taken by England in 
her possessions in the New World prior to the close of the 
sixteenth century. About 1580 Sir Humphrey Gilbert made 
three voyages to the east coast of North America. His half- 
brother, Sir Walter Raleigh, took up the work and made earn- 
est attempts to settle on the eastern coast of what is now the 
United States. 

25. Raleigh's Charter. — Queen Elizabeth had given Ral- 
eigh a charter which granted him "Free liberty and license 
from time to time, and at all times forever hereafter, to dis- 
cover, search, find out, and view such remote, heathen, and 
barbarous lands, countries and territories, not actually pos- 
sessed of any Christian Prince" — and to take possession of 
the same and plant thereon English colonies. 

26. The Country Named Virginia. — Raleigh sent an 
expedition to look out a place suitable for planting a colony, 
in 1584. It was under the command of Amidas and Barlow. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 21 

They visited the shores of what is now North Carolina and 
returned with glowing accounts thereof. The region was im- 
mediately called Virginia in honor of Elizabeth, the virgin 
queen of England. 

In 1585 Raleigh sent a body of colonists who began a set- 
tlement on Roanoke Island but before a year had elapsed they 
had returned to England. The second attempt was made in 
1587. This also was a failure. 

27. The First Charter, 1606. — King James I. came to 
the English throne in 1603. In 1606 he issued a charter that 
is known as the Virginia charter. This charter provided for 
two companies — one to be known as the London company, and 
the other as the Plymouth company. These companies were 
made up of "sundry Knights, Gentlemen, Merchants, and 
other adventurers" of the cities named. The Plymouth com- 
pany was to confine its settlements in America to the territory 
included within the limits of the 41st and 45th parallels of 
north latitude. As this company had no direct connection 
with our main theme we may dismiss it without further con- 
sideration. 

The London company was assigned the territory between 
the 34th and 38th parallels of north latitude. This company 
was permitted to control the territory fifty miles along the 
coast each way from the place of settlement and 100 miles 
back into the interior of the country. The company was also 
to have all the islands within 100 miles of the coast directly 
in front of the 100 miles of coast line. 

28. Jamestown, 1607. — In the early part of 1607 the Lon- 
don company sent more than a hundred settlers to its terri- 
tory. They settled at a place which they called Jamestown, 
on the James river. The colonies lacked the qualities which 
they should have had for so difficult an undertaking. Within 
six months half of the original number died. Those who were 
left spent much of their time in idleness or searching for gold. 
The colony maintained its existence, but made no headway 
toward a vigorous development. Out of 630 colonists who came 



22 A Student's History of Illinois. 

within the first two and a half years, 570 had died before the 
end of that period. The company was much discouraged and 
was diligent in search of some means of remedying the evils 
found in the colony. 

29. The Second Charter, 1609. — Among the remedies 
which it was thought would bring order cut of the confusion, 
was the substituting of a governor for the president of the 
council. Another was the idea of a more complete authority 
of the company over the colonists. A third remedy was 
thought to be the enlargement of their territory. 

Accordingly, the King granted a second charter in 1609 
which among other provisions said — "And we do ... . give, 
grant, and confirm unto the said Treasurer and Company . . . . , 
all those Lands, Countries, and Territories, situate, lying, and 
being in that part of America, called Virginia from the Point 
of land, called Cape or Point Comfort, all along the sea coast 
to the Northward, two hundred miles, and from the said Point 
of Cape Comfort, all along the sea coast to the Southward, 
two hundred miles, and all that space and Circuit of Land, 
lying from the Sea Coast of the Precinct aforesaid, up into 
the Land throughout, from Sea to Sea, West and Northwest." 

30. The Interpretation. — The interpretation of this 
charter was a subject of discussion for many years. The peo- 
ple of Virginia wished to put such a construction upon the 
charter that it would give them a strip of land from "sea to 
sea." In order to do this it was necessary to insist that the 
south line should run due west, while the north should run 
northwest. For if the south line should run northwest and 
the north line west, the two lines would meet at a point 400 
miles west of the New Jersey coast, which the Virginians be- 
lieved would not give them a "sea to sea" grant. 

The accompanying map will give a very clear notion of the 
grant by the Charter of 1609 according to the interpretation 
of the Virginians. 



Student's History of Illinois. 



23 




Map to Show the Royal Grants to Virginia, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. 



It will thus be seen that what is now the State of Illinois, 
was wholly within the limits of the grant to the London com- 
pany according to the charter of 1609. And although the char- 
ter was amended in 1612, and annulled in 1624, Virginia still 
claimed the lands comprehended in this "sea to sea" grant 
of 1609. 

31. Connecticut Charter of 1662.— Charles II., in 1662, 
issued a charter to the people of Connecticut, which was also 
a "sea to sea" grant. 

This grant was bounded on the north "by the line of the 
Massachusetts Plantation ; and on the south by the Sea .... 
running from East to West. That is to say, from the said 
Narragansett Bay on the East, to the South Sea on the West 
Part." 

This grant was bounded on the north by the parallel of 42 
degrees and 2 minutes. The south line was the parallel of 41 



24 A Student's History of Illinois. 

degrees. The parallel of 41 degrees passes about ten miles 
south of the city of Kankakee, while the parallel of 42 de- 
grees and 2 minutes passes through Evanston. It will thus 
be seen that a strip of land about seventy miles wide reaching 
from Kankakee to Evanston was claimed by Connecticut until 
her deed of cession was executed May 11, 1786. 

32. Massachusetts Charter of 1691. — Massachusetts had 
two charters, one granted in 1629 and annulled in 1684. An- 
other issued in 1691 and continuing till the Revolution. 

Both of these charters were "sea to sea" grants. In the 
one issued in 1691, and as interpreted by the courts, the south 
line was the north line of Connecticut, while the north line 
was the parallel passing some north of Milwaukee. Thus we 
see that the north end of the present State was in the grant 
to Massachusetts. 

Though Illinois was a portion of the grants to Virginia, 
Connecticut, and Massachusetts, the latter two states never 
practically laid claim to any portion of the State, but the his- 
tory of Virginia is most closely connected with that of Illi- 
nois. 




The Galesburg High School Building. Cost, $H 0,000.00. Has forty-one. (4 J) 
rooms? employs twenty-one (21) teachers, and enrolls 613 pupils. Prob- 
ably the best equipped high school building in the State. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 25 



CHAPTER IV. 

THE FRENCH IN THE VALLEY OF THE ST. LAWRENCE. 

33. French Fishermen, 1504. — It will now be neces- 
sary to give some account of the explorations and settlements 
of the French in the valley of the St. Lawrence river, inas- 
much as the early history of Illinois is inseparably connected 
with French occupancy in North America. 

French fishermen visited the regions around Newfound- 
land as early as 1504, but probably no French explorers were 
here before the coming of Verrazano in 1524. He is said to 
have coasted from Labrador southward into what is now New 
England. He was an Italian, but commissioned by Francis I. 

34. Cartier. — In 1534 James Cartier sailed into the 
mouth of the St. Lawrence. The next year he sailed up the 
river as far as Quebec and from there proceeded inland to the 
present city of Montreal. Cartier returned to France with a 
very attractive description of the country, but nothing was 
done toward colonization till 1541. The moving spirit in col- 
onization was Lord Roberval. However, Cartier seems to have 
had charge of the expedition. At this time there was a great 
demand for sailors and fishermen, and it was with great diffi- 
culty that Cartier could get enough sailors for his expedition. 
It seems' also that it was not easy to induce a better class of 
people to come as colonists. The colonists are said to have 
been criminals, spendthrifts, bankrupts, debtors, etc. There 
seem to have been two divisions of the expedition. The first 
was lead by Cartier and the second by Roberval. The two 
leaders did not get along well together and for that reason 
nothing permanent came of their efforts. The colonists suf- 



26 A Student's History of Illinois. 

fered severely in the Canadian winters. Large numbers died, 
and by 1543 all had returned to France. 

35. Champlain Founds Quebec, 1608. — Xothing more 
was done by France to settle the St. Lawrence region till the 
opening of the next century. As early as 1603 Samuel Cham- 
plain visited the region of the St. Lawrence, and by 1608 had 
founded a permanent settlement where Quebec now stands. 
This city was begun July 3, 1608. In the winter following 
many suffered from the extreme cold. Twenty out of twenty- 
eight died before the middle of April, 1609. Fresh colonists 
arrived in June, 1609, and the prospects brightened. 

Champlain had heard very interesting stories of a lake con- 
taining islands, and surrounded by mountains, to the south- 
west of the settlement on the St. Lawrence. He became very 
anxious to discover this lake, and he entered into an agree- 
ment with the Indians around Quebec, to the effect that if 
they would pilot his expedition into the region of the lake, 
he would defend them against their enemies in that region — 
the Iroquois. 

36. Discovery of Lake Champlain. — June 18, 1609, 
Champlain, accompanied by representatives from the Mon- 
tagnais, the Hurons, and the Algonquins, together with two 
French soldiers, moved up the Sorel river. They explored 
Lake Champlain and were about ready to return to Quebec 
when Mohawk Indians, the deadly foe of the Indians with 
Champlain, appeared ready for battle. A battle was fought 
in which Champlain and the two French soldiers used fire- 
arms. This greatly demoralized the Mohawks and they fled 
leaving dead and wounded to the mercy of the Canadian 
Indians. 

The next year a smaller though more disastrous engage- 
ment took place between the Iroquois and the three Canada 
tribes, Champlain helping the latter. 

The fur trade was becoming very profitable to the French 
and explorations were made by Champlain into the surround- 



A Student's History of Illinois. 27 

ing country. On one of these trips he went far up the Ot- 
tawa river. A trading post was established at Montreal and 
everything seemed quite favorable to the French. 

37. Founding Missions. — In 1615 Champlain returned 
to France for additional help. On his return to Canada he 
brought, in addition to other help, four missionary priests, 
Denis Jamay, Jean (V Olbeau, Joseph le Caron, and Pacifique 
du Plessis. These were of the Franciscan order. 

Fathers Jamay and du Plessis were stationed at Quebec. 
Jean d' Olbeau took up his work among the Montagnais In- 
dians who lived near the mouth of the St. Lawrence river, 
while le Caron went into the peninsula formed by Lake St. 
Clair, and Lake Erie. 

38. Campaign Against the Iroquois. — The Huron In- 
dians were anxious to be led in an attack upon their enemy, 
the Iroquois. Starting from Montreal, Champlain went in a 
very circuitious route up the Ottawa river across Lake Huron, 
thence east crossing Niagara, river below the falls and attack- 
ing a well constructed fort somewhere in the neighborhood of 
Oneida Lake in western New York. The campaign was fruit- 
less and only served to increase the hatred of the New York 
Indians for the French. The alliance which Champlain 
formed with the Hurons, the Algonquins, and the Montagnais, 
in the summer of 1609, was a very unfortunate move in west- 
ern diplomacy. For it so turned out that the French were 
forced to seek the interior of the continent by such routes as 
they could find on the north side of the chain of the Great 
Lakes and their connecting rivers ; this forced them to reach 
the Illinois country by way of Mackinaw instead of directly 
across New York, Ohio, and Indiana. 

39. Early French Settlers. — The French colonists, if 
we may call them such, who came to the St. Lawrence valley 
in the early part of the seventeenth century, were very dif- 
ferent from the settlers who came to the rich valleys of Vir- 
ginia, Maryland, New York, or even those who came to the 



28 A Student's History of Illinois. 

rocky hillsides of Xew England. The English settlers were 
agriculturists — they were home makers. The French cared 
nothing for such interests. There were perhaps three domi- 
nant ideas which gave direction to the energy of the French 
in the valley of the St. Lawrence. They cared little for free- 
dom in Church or State and they never became attached to the 
soil of the New World as did the Anglo-Saxons of the Atlantic 
coast. 

The three ideas which gave direction to the work of the 
French were : 

1. The love of dominion. The Frenchman loved his coun- 
try. The Lilies of France must be planted upon every avail- 
able foot of unoccupied soil. 

2. The conversion of the Indian. This was a consuming 
passion of the priests who came to Xew France. For the ac- 
complishment of this end these missionary priests suffered as 
no other people suffered. They toiled when there seemed to 
others little hope, and sacrificed all when others were full of 
the greed of gain. 

3. The monopoly of the fur trade. For the amassing of a 
fortune, no gold mine in those times could in any way com- 
pare with the monopoly of the fur trade. To be sure, no one 
Frenchman who came to Xew France in the early days of the 
seventeenth century, had all of these three dominant ideas 
fully developed. But it is certain that every Frenchman who 
played a very prominent part in the spread of French inter- 
ests in the Xew World belonged to one of these three classes. 

40. Three Classes of Men. — Since these three fundamen- 
tal ideas were the moving power in the march of events which 
resulted in French occupancy in the Xew World, there needs 
of necessity to have been three great classes of men : 

1. There were the soldiers of fortune and the deputies of 
the King. These planted the fleur-de-lis, and proclaimed 
FRAXCISCUS PRIMUS, DEI GRATIA FRAXCORUM 



'A Student's History of Illinois. 29 

REX REGNAT. They gloried in the spread of the King's 
dominions. 

2. The priests with the message of the Cross were found 
everywhere. These consecrated men were always in the van 
of the onward sweep of French empire in the New World. 
The Cross more often led the way. 

3. There were the omnipresent fur-traders. They swarmed 
up and down the St. Lawrence. They were found at every 
settlement. They were found in the forefront of every re- 
ligious or military movement. The fur-trader must not be 
condemned, for he was quite an essential factor in the settle- 
ment of the new land. In our efforts to follow the movements 
of these people into the interior of the continent, let us not 
forget that each class has its mission in planting French in- 
stitutional life in the wilderness of the New World. 

41. The French in the Region of the Lakes. — Le Caron, 
one of the four priests whom Champlain brought over in 
1615, planted a mission as far west as the head of Georgian 
Bay as early as the above date. Etienne Brule, a. bold voyager, 
visited the mission with Champlain in the summer of 1616, 
and from there he wandered to the regions as far west as 
Lake Superior. He returned to Montreal with the news of 
the new discovery in 1618. 

Within the next third of a century the French had made 
a very thorough exploration of the regions of the Great Lakes. 
The honors as well as the hardships of this great work were 
shared alike by priests and explorer. In 1634 Jean Nicolet, 
a trained woodsman, reached Lake Michigan. While at Green 
Bay he heard much of the "great water" — the Mississippi 
river. Two priests, Fathers Jogues and Raymbault preached 
to the Indians around the outlet of Lake Superior in 1641. 

42. Death of Champlain, 1635.— Champlain died at Que- 
bec December 25, 1635. He had had a very active life in 
New France. His death seems to have retarded the progress 
of the explorations. But there was another cause. The 



30 A Student's History of Illinois. 

Dutch in New York had won the Iroquois Indians by trading 
guns, powder, and other European products to them in ex- 
change for furs. In this way the Iroquois were getting ready 
to avenge the death of their brothers as a result of Cham- 
plain's inroads into their country. 

With such vigor did the Iroquois strike terror into the 
hearts of the Huron and Algonquin Indians that exploration 
and trade in the Ottawa country were paralyzed. For a period 
of twenty years quiet reigned in the Lake region. The fol- 
lowing from Montreal in 1653 gives some notion of the result 
of the Iroquois invasions : 

The war with the Iroquois has dried up all sources of prosperity. 
The beaver are allowed to build their dams in peace, none being will- 
ing or able to molest them. Crowds of Hurons no longer descend 
from their country with furs for trading. The Algonquin country is 
depopulated, and the nations beyond it are retiring farther away, 
fearing the musketry of the Iroquois. 

The keeper of the company's store here in Montreal has not 
bought a single beaver skin for a year. 

At Three Rivers the small means in hand have been used in for- 
tifying the place, from fear of an inroad upon it. In the Quebec 
storehouse all is emptiness. 

43. Peace. — This explains the lack of French activity 
around the lakes from 1635 to about 1654. In the latter year 
the French and the Iroquois effected a treaty of peace, and 
quiet and safety were restored. After peace was restored, the 
work of exploration and trade was renewed. 

44. Jean Nicolet. — The year that Etienne Brule re- 
turned from his wanderings in the region of Lake Superior, 
Jean Nicolet, a young Frenchman from Cherbourg, came to 
work for the "hundred associates," a fur company organized 
by Champlain. He mingled freely with the Indians and soon 
occupied the position of interpreter for the company. In 
1634, Nicolet began a journey from the trading post at Three 
Eivers into the unknown southwest. He went by way of the 
Straits of Mackinaw, into Lake Michigan, and finally reached 



A Student's History of Illinois. 31 

Green Bay. Here he called a council of the Winnebagoes and 
neighboring tribes, and after announcing to them his mission 
as a peacemaker and having won them to the cause of the 
French at Quebec, he was feasted by the chief men of the 
tribes. 

He returned to Three Eivers the next year and reported 
that he had been within three days travel of the "Western 
Ocean." In this year occurred the death of Champlain and 
then followed the long period of inactivity mentioned above. 

45. Groseilliers and Radisson. — Two French traders 
known in the history as Groseillier and Radisson, visited the 
Lake Superior region in the years 1659-60 and spent consid- 
erable time in the region southwest of the western end of 
Lake Superior. At this time the Hurons lived in this locality 
and from them the two traders learned much concerning the 
country. They returned to Montreal in 1660 with a rich 
cargo of beaver skins and other furs. As soon as they sold out 
the furs, they organized another expedition to the Lake Supe- 
rior region. An aged missionary, Father Rene Menard, ac- 
companied this expedition and lost his life in the wilds of 
what is now Wisconsin. 

46. Congress at Sault Ste. Marie. — About the year 1670 
the French began to hear that the English were in the Hud- 
son Bay region. Talon, the intendant of Canada, wishing 
to hold the fur trade for New France, commissioned St. Lus- 
son to hold a congress of Indian chiefs in the vicinity of Lake 
Superior for the purpose of forming a treaty by which the 
fur trade might be diverted from the English toward the 
French posts on the St. Lawrence. On June 14, 1671, four- 
teen Indian tribes sent representatives to this congress, and 
with much ceremony St. Lusson announced that the King of 
France had taken possession of all the region around the 
Great Lakes and that thenceforth the King of France would 
regard the Indians as children of his especial care. 



32 A Student's History of Illinois. 

47. Count Frontenac. — Courcelles, the French governor 
of Canada, returned to France on account of ill health and his 
place was filled by the appointment of Count Frontenac as 
governor. The new governor arrived in the fall of 1672 and 
commenced with energy to push the work of explorations. 
Among these undertakings was one which resulted in the dis- 
covery of the Mississippi river. 

All the traders and explorers who had mingled with the 
Indians to the west of the Great Lakes, had heard of the great 
river, and of the people who lived along its borders. Won- 
derful stories had come to the officials in Canada of the river, 
the people, and the country through which the river ran. To 
find this river, discover into what it flowed, and to turn to 
the cause of France the people along its course, was therefore 
the first work of the new governor. 




Wolf Point, the Junction of the North and South Branches of 
the Chicago River, 1832. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 33 



CHATER V. 

DISCOVERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI BY MARQUETTE 
AND JOLIET. 

48. Extent of French Explorations. — Let us now re- 
call what the French had accomplished in the sixty-five years 
during which they had possession of the St. Lawrence valley 
and the region around the Great Lakes. 

They had settled Quebec and Montreal. Their traders and 
trappers had covered the country north nearly to the region 
of the Hudson Bay. They had carefully explored all the 
Great Lakes, and had mapped the region quite accurately. 
They had mission stations at many of the strategic points in 
the lake country. They had won the Indians to their cause 
everywhere, except perhaps to the south of Lake Ontario. And 
now they were ready to take a step which will eventually con- 
nect all this interior with the sea through the waters of a 
great river. 

It should be borne in mind that the French in Canada had 
not engaged in farming for the climatic conditions were 
against the cultivation of the soil — at least it was thought so 
at that time. No manufactures had been established, even in 
a primitive way. The people were engaged in missionary 
work, in explorations, and in trading and trapping. 

49. Frontenac Names Joliet. — For the purpose of car- 
rying out his predecessor's design of discovering the great 
river, Frontenac, at the suggestion of M. Talon, intendant, 
appointed Louis Joliet to go in search of the great river. 

Louis Joliet was a native of Canada, having been born 
near Quebec in 1645. His education had been received under 



34 A Student's History of Illinois. 

the direction of the Jesuits who planned that he should take 
the orders of the priesthood. But the young novitiate dis- 
covered that he was not litted for that calling and so with- 
drew from the work of preparation. 

At the age of 24 he was dispatched to the Lake Superior 
regions to search for copper. From that time, 1669 to 1672, 
he was busy in the general work of the voyageur and mer- 
chant. About the year 1666 Father Marquette arrived from 
France, and went into the mission fields in the region of Lake 
Superior. In company with Fathers Dablon and Allouez, the 
entire territory around the Great Lakes, especially the west- 
ern regions, was mapped. Mission posts were established in 
the region of St. Mary. The mission of St. Francis Xavier 
was founded on the southeast coast of Green Bay. The mis- 
sion of St. Ignace was planted in 1671. 

In all these travels the Jesuits were hearing wonderful 
stories of the great river and of the Illinois Indians. Father 
Marquette had fully made up his mind to go in search of this 
great river and carry the gospel to these Illinois Indians of 
whom he had heard. But no opportunity had yet presented, 
and he was waiting patiently not knowing what the govern- 
ment had in mind and in store for him. 

50. Marquette Joins Joliet. — Joliet was directed by 
Frontenac to proceed to Mackinaw where he would be joined 
by Father Marquette who would represent the church on the 
expedition as Joliet would the government. While Joliet was 
the official representing the French government, Marquette 
claimed a higher and holier mission. 

December the 8th is the day of the celebration of the feast 
of the Immaculate Conception as kept by the Catholic church. 
It was on this day, December 8, 1672, that Joliet reached the 
mission of St. Ignace on the straits of Mackinaw, on his way 



A Student's History of Illinois. 35 

to find the great river. Marquette in writing this part of the 
story, says: 

The day of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin, whom I 
had always invoked .... to obtain of God the grace to be able to visit 
the nations on the River Mississippi, was identically that on which 
M. Jollyet arrived with orders of the Counte de Frontenac, our Gov- 
ernor, and M. Talon our intendant, to make this discovery with me. 
I was the more enraptured at the good news, as I saw my designs 
on the point of being accomplished, and myself in the happy necessity 
of exposing my life for the salvation of all these nations, and par- 
ticularly for the Illinois. . . .who had earnestly entreated me to carry 
the word of God to their country. 

The preparations were indeed very simple. They consisted 
in providing some Indian corn and dried meat. This was the 
entire stock of provisions with which they started. They left 
St. Ignace with two bark canoes and five French voyageurs, 
May 17, 1673. 

The prospect before both Joliet and Marquette was such 
as greatly to buoy them up, one looking forward to the con- 
version of the Indians, the other to the conquest of more ter- 
ritory for his King. They rowed with a hearty good will and 
stopped only when night forced them to pull to shore. Their 
course lay along the northern shore of Lake Michigan bearing 
toward the southwest. 

51. The Patron Saint. — Marquette says: 

Above all, I put our voyage under the protection of the Blessed 
Virgin Immaculate, promising her, that if she did us the grace to 
discover the great river, I would give it the name of Conception; 
and that I would also give that name to the first mission which I 
would establish among these new nations, as I have actually done 
among the Illinois. 

The expedition reached Green Bay about the first of June, 
1673. Here Father Marquette preached to the Indians. These 



26 A Student's History of Illinois. 

Indians tried to dissuade him from his undertaking, but noth- 
ing would now turn him from his purpose of visiting the 
Illinois country. At the head of Green Bay was a mission 
planted, probably, by Father Allouez in 1667. To this mis- 
sion they paid a short visit and proceeded up Fox river. At 
an Indian village on the Fox river the travellers were received 
by the warriors of the Kickapoos, the Mascoutins, and the 
Miamis. A short conference was held. Marquette says he 
was pleased to find here a large cross standing in the middle 
of the village. Here the travellers asked for two guides to 
take them across the portage to the Wisconsin river. The 
guides were cheerfully furnished. 

52. The Father of Waters.— On June 10, 1673, Mar- 
quette, Joliet, and the five Frenchmen, and two Indian guides 
began the journey across the portage. They carried their two 
canoes as well as their provisions and other supplies. The 
portage is a short one, Marquette says three leagues long. It 
was full of small lakes and marshes. When the guides had 
seen the travellers safely over the portage, they returned to 
their own people. There were left here the seven Frenchmen 
with an unknown country ahead of them, but they were filled 
with the high resolve of finding the Mississippi and of visiting 
the Illinois Indians. 

June the 17th their canoes shot out into the broad Mis- 
sissippi. The voyagers were filled with a joy unspeakable. 
The journey now began down the stream without any cere- 
mony. Marquette made accurate observations of the lay of 
the land, the vegetation, and the animals. Among the ani- 
mals he mentions are deer, moose, and all sorts of fish, tur- 
keys, wild cattle, and small game. 

53. The Illinois. — Somewhere, probably below Eock Is- 
land, the voyagers discovered footprints and they knew that 
the Illinois were not far away. Marquette and Joliet left their 



A Student's History of Illinois. 37 

boats in the keeping of the five Frenchmen and after prayers 
they departed into the interior, following the tracks of the 
Indians. They soon came to an Indian village. The chiefs 
received the two whites with very great ceremony. The peace 
pipe was smoked and Joliet, who was trained in all the Indian 
languages, told them of the purpose of their visit to this 
Illinois country. A chief responded and after giving the two 
whites some presents, among which were a calumet and an 
Indian slave boy, the chief warned them not to go further 
down the river for great dangers awaited them. Marquette 
replied that they did not fear death and nothing would please 
them more than to lose their lives in God's service. 

After promising the Indians they would come again, they 
retired to their boats, accompanied by 600 warriors from the 
village. They departed from these Indians about the last of 
June and were soon on their journey down the river. 

54. The Piasa Bird. — As they moved southward the 
bluffs became quite a marked feature of the general land- 
scape. After passing the mouth of the Illinois river, they 
came to unusually high bluffs on the Illinois side of ' the Mis- 
sissippi. At a point about six miles above the present city of 
Alton, they discovered on the high smooth-faced bluffs a very 
strange object which Marquette describes as follows : 

As we coasted along rocks, frightful for their height and length, 
we saw two monsters painted on these rocks, which startled us at 
first, and on which the boldest Indian dare not gaze long. They are 
as large as a calf, with horns on the head like a deer, a frightful 
look, red eyes, bearded like a tiger, the face somewhat like a man's, 
the body covered with scales, and the tail so long that it twice makes 
the turn of the body, passing over the head and down between the 
legs, and ending at last in a fish's tail. Green, red, and a kind of 
black are the colors employed. On the whole, these two monsters are 
so well painted that we could not believe any Indian to have been the 
designer, as good painters in France would find it hard to do as 



38 A Student's History of Illinois. 

well; beside this, they are so high upon the rock that it is hard to 
get conveniently at them to paint them. This is pretty nearly the 
figure of these monsters as I drew it off. 





5J 












y ) )))'/ f r W^fv 





Photograph loaned by Mr. Geo. R. Adams, White Hall 111. 

The Piasa Monster as described by Marquette. 

55. The Tradition. — In an early clay in Illinois, the 
description of these monsters was quite current in the west- 
ern part of the State. So also was a tradition that these mon- 
sters actually inhabited a great cave near. (This tradition 
described but a single monster and but a single picture.) The 
tradition said that this monster was a hideous creature with 
wings, and great claws, and great teeth. It was accustomed 
to devour every living thing which came within its reach; 
men, women, and children, and animals of all kinds. The 
Indians had suffered great loss of their people from the rav- 
ages of this monster and a council of war was held to devise 
some means by which its career might be ended. Among 
other schemes for its extermination was a proposition by a 
certain young warrior. It was to the effect that upon the de- 
parture of the beast on one of his long flights for food that he 



A Student's History of Illinois. 39 

would volunteer to be securely tied to stakes on the ledge in 
front of the mouth of the cave, and that a sufficient number of 
other warriors of the tribe should be stationed near with 
their poisoned arrows so that when the bird should return from 
its flight they might slay the monster. 

This proposition was accepted and on a certain day the 
bird took its accustomed flight. The young warrior who of- 
fered to sacrifice his life was securely bound to strong stakes 
in front of the mouth of the cave. The warriors who were to 
slay the beast were all safely hidden in the rocks and debris 
near. In the afternoon the monster was seen returning from 
its long journey. Upon lighting near its cave, it discovered 
the young warrior and immediately attacked him, fastening 
its claws and teeth in his body. The thongs held him securely 
and the more the monster strove to escape with its prey the 
more its claws became entangled in the thongs. 

At a concerted moment the warriors all about opened upon 
the monster with their poisoned arrows, and before the beast 
could extricate itself, its life blood was ebbing away. The 
death of the dreaded monster had been compassed. 

56. The Painting. — The warriors took the body of the 
great monster and stretching it out so as to get a good picture 
of it, marked out the form and painted it as it was seen by 
Marquette. Because the tribes of Indians had suffered such 
destruction of life by this monster, an edict went forth that 
every warrior who went by this bluff should discharge at least 
one arrow at the painting. This the Indians continued religi- 
ously to do. In later years when guns displaced the arrows 
among the Indians, they continued to shoot at the painting as 
they passed and thus it is said the face of the painting was 
greatly marred. 

57. Judge Gillespie. — Judge Joseph Gillespie, of Ed- 
wardsville, Illinois, a prolific writer and a man of unimpeach- 
able character wrote in 1883 as follows : 



40 A Student's History of Illinois. 

I saw what was called the picture sixty years since, long before 
it was marred by quarrymen or the tooth of time, and I never saw 
anything which would have impressed my mind that it was intended 
to represent a bird. I saw daubs of coloring matter that I supposed 
exuded from the rocks that might, to very impressible people bear 
some resemblance to a bird or a dragon, after they were told to look 
at it in that light, just as we fancy in certain arrangements of the 
stars we see animals, etc., in the constellations. I did see the marks 
of the bullets shot by the Indians against the rocks in the vicinity 
of the so-called picture. Their object in shooting at this I never 
could comprehend. I do not think the story had its origin among 
the Indians or was one of their superstitions, but was introduced to 
the literary world by John Russell, of Bluff Dale, Illinois, who wrote 
a beautiful story about it. 

The bluff has long since disappeared from the use of the 
stone for building purposes. 

58. Grand Tower. — As Marquette and Joliet passed on 
down the river they passed the mouth of the Missouri which 
at that time was probably subject to a great flood. When 
considerably below the mouth of the Kaskaskia river they 
came to a very noted object — at least the Indians had many 
stories about it. This is what we know today as the Grand 
Tower. This great rock in the Mississippi causes a great 
commotion in the water of the river and probably was de- 
structive of canoes in those days. 

On they go down the river past the mouth of the Ohio, 
into the region of semi-tropical sun and vegetation. The 
cane-brakes lined the banks, and the mosquitoes became plen- 
tiful and very annoying. Here also probably in the region of 
Memphis they stopped and held councils with the Indians. 
They found the Indians using guns, axes, hoes, knives, beads, 
etc., and when questioned as to where they got these articles, 
they said to the eastward. These Indians told the travellers 
that it was not more than ten days' travel to the mouth of 
the river. They proceeded on down the river till they reached 
Choctaw Bend, in latitude 33 degrees and 40 minutes. Here 



A Student's History of Illinois. 41 

they stopped, held a conference, and decided to go no further. 

59. The Return. — They justified their return in the fol- 
lowing manner: 

First, they were satisfied that the Mississippi emptied into 
the Gulf of Mexico, and not into the Gulf of California, nor 
into the Atlantic ocean in Virginia. Second, they feared a 
conflict with the Spaniards who occupied and claimed the 
Gulf coast. Third, they feared the Indians of the lower Mis- 
sissippi for they used firearms and might oppose their further 
progress south. Fourth, they had acquired all the informa- 
tion they started out to obtain. 

And so, on the 17th of July, 1673, they turned their faces 
homeward. They had been just two months, from May 17, to 
July 17, on their journey. They had traveled more than a 
thousand miles. They had faced all forms of danger and had 
undergone all manner of hardships. Their provisions had 
been obtained en route. France owed them a debt of gratitude 
which will never be fully paid. Indeed not only France, but 
the world is their debtor. 

Nothing of interest occurred on their return journey until 
they reached the mouth of the Illinois river. Here they were 
told by some Indians that there was a much shorter route to 
Green Bay than by way of upper Mississippi and the Wiscon- 
sin and Fox portage. This shorter route was up the Illinois 
river to the Chicago "oortage and then along Lake Michigan to 
Green Bay. 

60. Kaskaskia. — Marquette and Joliet proceeded up the 
Illinois river. When passing by Peoria Lake they halted for 
three days. While here Marquette preached the gospel to the 
natives. Just as Marquette was leaving they brought him a 
dying child which he baptized. When in the vicinity of Ot- 
tawa, they came to a village of the Kaskaskia Indians. Mar- 
quette says there were seventy-four cabins in the village and 
that the Indians received them kindly. They tarried but a 
short time and were escorted from this point up the Illinois 



42 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



and over the Chicago portage by one of the Kaskaskia chiefs 
and several young warriors. 




Paten, Chalice and Records from the Mission of the Immaculate Conception — 
Also the Table on which the Constitution of 1818 was written. 



While in the village of the Kaskaskias, Marquette told the 
story of the Cross to the natives, and they were so well pleased 
with it that they made him promise to return to teach them 



A Student's History of Illinois. 43 

more about Jesus. Marquette: and Joliet reached Green Bay 
in the month of September, 1673. Probably they both re- 
mained here during the ensuing winter. In the summer of 
1674, Joliet returned to Quebec to make his report to the 
governor. On his way down the St. Lawrence, his boat up- 
set and he came near losing his life. He lost all his maps, 
papers, etc., and was obliged to make a verbal report to the 
governor. 

61. Mission of the Immaculate Conception. — Father 
Marquette remained in the mission of St. Francois Xavier 
through the summer of 1674, and late in the fall started on 
his journey back to Kaskaskia. The escort consisted of two 
Frenchmen and some Indians. They reached the Chicago 
portage in the midst of discouraging circumstances. The 
weather was severe and Father Marquette was unable to pro- 
ceed further. On the banks of the Chicago river they built 
some huts and here the party remained till spring. During 
the winter Father Marquette did not suffer for want of at- 
tention, for he was visited by a number of Indians and by at 
least two prominent Frenchmen. 

By the last of March he was able to travel. He reached 
the Kaskaskia village Monday, April 8, 1675. He was re- 
ceived with great joy by the Indians. He established the 
mission of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin. 
Seeing he could not possibly live long, he returned to St. Ig- 
nace by way of the Kankakee portage. He never lived to 
reach Mackinaw. He died the 18th of May, 1675. 

62. The Result.— This expedition by Marquette and 
Joliet had carried the Lilies of France nearly to the Gulf of 
Mexico. The Indians in the great plains between the Great 
Lakes and the Gulf had been visited and the resources of the 
country noted. There remained but a slight strip of terri- 
tory over which the banner of France had not floated, from the 



44 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



Gulf of St. Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico. If this short 
distance were explored, then the French government would 
have completely surrounded the English colonies in North 
America. This is the next movement for the French as we 
shall see. 




A View of Old Fort Massac. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 45 



CHAPTER VI. 

THE TRIUMPHS OF CHEVALIER DE LA SALLE. 

63. Fort Frontenac. — Chevalier de La Salle came to 
America in the year 1667. Shortly after arriving in this conn- 
try he established himself as a fur trader at a trading post 
called La Chine, on the island of Montreal. Here he came in 
contact with the Indians from the far west. Within two years 
lie had departed on an exploration. For the next two or three 
years he had probably visited the Ohio river and had become 
quite familiar with the country to the south and west of the 
Great Lakes. 

Count Frontenac built a fort on the shore of Lake Ontario 
where the lake sends its waters into the St. Lawrence river. 
La Salle was put in charge of this fort. He named it Fort 
Frontenac. The purpose of this fort was to control the fur 
trade, especially that from up the Ottawa, and prevent it from 
going to New York. In 1674 La Salle went to France and 
while there was raised to the rank of a noble. The King was 
greatly pleased with the plans of La Salle and readily granted 
him the seigniory of Fort Frontenac, together with a large 
quantity of land. For all this La Salle promised to keep the fort 
in repair, to maintain a garrison equal to that of Montreal, to 
clear the land, put it in a state of cultivation, and continually 
to keep arms, ammunition, and artillery in the fort. He fur- 
ther agreed to pay Count Frontenac for the erection of the 
fort, to build a church, attract Indians, make grants of land 
to settlers, and to do all for the ultimate purpose of further- 
ing the interests of the French government. 

64. Second Visit to France. — La Salle returned from 
France and was perhaps at Fort Frontenac when Joliet passed 



46 A Student's History of Illinois. 

down the lakes in the summer of 16 74. The next year he 
began the improvement of his fort. For two years he prose- 
cuted a thriving trade with the Indians and also engaged in 
farming, ship-building, cattle-raising, and study. 

The fall of 1678 found him in France with a request that 
the King grant him permission to explore the western part of 
New France and if possible find the mouth of the Mississippi 
river. La Salle had matured plans by which New France was 
to be connected with the western country by a line of strong 
fortifications. Fort Frontenac was the first step in this plan. 
He there explained how easy it would be to reach the region 
of the Great Lakes by the St. Lawrence route or by the Mis- 
sissippi. There is no doubt that both Frontenac and La Salle 
wished to transfer the emphasis from the conversion of the 
Indians to that of conquest of territory for France, and to the 
more profitable business, as they saw it, of commerce. Fronte- 
nac had therefore strongly endorsed La Salle and his plans. 
Through Colbert and his son. La Salle succeeded in getting 
his patent from the King. 

While in France La Salle met Henri de Tonty, an Italian 
who had just won distinction in the French army. His father 
had been engaged in an insurrection in Italy and had taken 
refuge in France where he became a great financier, having 
originated the Tontine system of life insurance. Henri de 
Tonty had lost a hand in one of the campaigns, but he was 
nevertheless a man of great energy, and destined to win for 
himself an honored name in the New World. 

La Salle returned to New France in 1678, bringing with 
him about thirty craftsmen and mariners, together with a 
large supply of military and naval stores. It can readily be 
seen that La Salle would be opposed by the merchants and 
politicians in the region of Quebec and Montreal. He had 
risen rapidly and was now ready to make one of the most pre- 
tentious efforts at discovery and exploration that had been 
undertaken in New France. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 47 

65. The Griffin. — Late in the fall of 1678, probably in 
December he sent Captain LaMotte, and sixteen men to select 
a suitable site for the building of a vessel with which to navi- 
gate the upper lakes. Captain LaMotte stopped at the rapids 
below Niagara. Falls and seems to have been indifferent to his 
mission. La Salle and Tonty arrived the 8th of January, 
1679. The next day La Salle went above the Falls and se- 
lected a place to construct the vessel. (The exact place is in 
doubt, probably at Tonawanda creek.) 

Tonty was charged with building the vessel. It was 
launched in May, 1679, and was christened the Griffin (Grif- 
fon). It was of forty-five to fifty tons burden and carried a 
complement of five cannon, and is supposed to have cost about 
$10,000. 

An expedition of traders had been dispatched into the 
Illinois country for the purpose of traffic, in the fall of 1678. 
Tonty and a small party went up Lake Erie and were to await 
the coming of the Griffin at the head of the lake. The Griffin 
weighed anchor August 7, 1679, amid the booming of cannon 
and the chanting of the Te Deum. It arrived at what is now 
Detroit on the 10th, and there found Tonty and his party. 
The vessel reached Mackinaw on the 27th of August. Here 
La Salle found the men whom he had dispatched the year be- 
fore to traffic with the Indians. He found they had been dis- 
suaded from proceeding to the Illinois country by the report 
that La Salle was visionary and that his ship would never 
reach Mackinaw. Tontv was given the task of getting: these 
men together, and while he was thus engaged, La Salle sailed 
in the Griffin for Green Bay. 

Green Bay had been for several years a meeting place be- 
tween white traders and explorers, and the Indians. When 
La Salle reached the point, he found some of the traders whom 
he had sent ahead the year before. These traders had col- 
lected from the Pottowatomies large quantities of furs. For 
these furs La Salle exchanged a large stock of European goods 



48 A Student's History of Illinois. 

with which the Griffin was loaded. It is said that he made a 
large sum of money in this transaction. The Griffin was 
loaded with these furs and made ready to return to the ware- 
houses at Niagara. 

66. The Griffin Returns.— On September the 18th, the 
Griffin, in charge of a trusted pilot, a supercargo, and five sail- 
ors, started on the return voyage. La Salle on the 19th of 
September, 1679, with a company of fourteen persons, in four 
birch bark canoes, loaded with a blacksmith's forge, carpen- 
ter's tools, merchandise, arms, provision, etc., started on his 
journey for the Illinois country. He coasted along the west- 
ern shore of Lake Michigan. Their provision was exhausted 
before they reached the present site of Milwaukee. They had 
been forced ashore three times to save their boats and their 
lives. They now went in search of food and fortunately found 
a deserted Indian village with plenty of corn. They appro- 
priated the corn, but left some articles as pay. The next day 
the Indians returned and followed the whites to their boats 
and it was only by presenting the calumet that La Salle was 
able to appease them. 

From Milwaukee they coasted south past the mouth of the 
Chicago river and following the southerly bend of the lake 
reached the mouth of the St. Joseph river November 1, 1679. 
This had been appointed as the meeting place of the two expe- 
ditions — the one under La Salle and the one under Tonty. 
La Salle was anxious to get to the Illinois country, but he also 
desired the help of Tonty and as the latter had not yet arrived, 
La Salle occupied the time of his men in building a palisade 
fort which he named Fort Miami. Near by, he erected a bark 
chapel for the use of the priests, and also a storehouse for the 
goods which the Griffin was to bring from Niagara on its re- 
turn. 

67. Kankakee Portage. — Tonty arrived at Fort Miami 
on the 12th of November with only a portion of his company, 
the rest remaining behind to bring word of the Griffin. La- 



A Student's History of Illinois. 49 

Salle was now impatient to proceed, and dispatching Tonty 
for the rest of his crew waited for his return. The ice began 
to form and fearing the freezing over of the river, La Salle 
ascended the St. Joseph in search of the portage between the 
Kankakee and the St. Joseph. He went np the St. Joseph 
beyond the portage and while searching for it, was overtaken 
by a courier who told him Tonty and his party were at the 
portage farther down the river. This point is supposed to 
have been near the present city of South Bend, Indiana. Here 
was now assembled the party which was to become a very 
historic one. There were in all twenty-nine Frenchmen and 
one Indian. Among them were La Salle, De Tonty, Fathers 
Louis Hennepin, Zenobe Membre, and Gabriel de La Ki- 
bourde, and La Metairie, a notary, and De Loup, the Indian 
guide. They crossed the portage of three or four miles under 
great difficulties, dragging their canoes and their burdens on 
sledges. The ice was getting thick and a heavy snow storm 
was raging. By the 6th of December, 1679, they were afloat 
on the Kankakee. For many miles the country was so marshy 
that scarcely a camping place could be found, but soon they 
emerged into an open region of the country with tall grass and 
then they knew they were in the Illinois country. They suf- 
fered from lack of food, having killed only two deer, one buf- 
falo, two geese, and a few swans. As they journeyed on they 
passed the mouths of the Iroquois, the Des Plaines, and the 
Fox. They passed the present site of Ottawa and a few miles 
below they came to the Kaskaskia village where Marquette 
had planted the mission of the Immaculate Conception in the 
summer of 1675. Father Allouez had succeeded Marquette 
and had spent some time at the Kaskaskia village in 1676, 
and in 1677 he came again. But on the approach of La Salle, 
Allouez had departed for it was understood that almost all 
of the Jesuit priests were opposed to La Salle's plans of com- 
mercializing the interior of North America. The Kaskaskia 



50 A Student's History of Illinois. 

Indians were themselves absent from the village on an expe- 
dition to the south-land as was their winter custom. 

68. Kaskaskia. — This Kaskaskia village of four hun- 
dred lodges was uninhabited. The huts were built by cover- 
ing a long arbor-like frame work with mats of woven rushes 
In each lodge there was room for as many as ten families. In 
their hiding places, the Indians had secreted large quantities 
of corn for the spring planting and for sustenance till another 
crop could be raised. La Salle's party was so sorely in need 
of this corn that he decided to appropriate as much as they 
needed. This he did, taking 30 minots. On January 1, 1680, 
after mass by Father Hennepin, they departed down the Illi- 
nois river. On the morning of the 5th they had arrived at the 
outlet of what we call Peoria Lake. Here they saw large num- 
bers of boats and on the banks wigwams and large numbers of 
Indians. The Indians were much disconcerted upon seeing 
La Salle's party land, and many fled while a few held com- 
munication with the newcomers. La Salle held a consultation 
with the chiefs and told them of his taking their corn. He 
offered to pay for the corn and said that if he were compelled 
to give up the corn he would take his blacksmith and his tools 
to the next tribe, the Osages, whereupon the Indians gladly 
accepted pay for the corn taken and offered more. 

La Salle told them he wished to be on friendly terms with 
them, but that they must not expect him to engage in conflicts 
with the Iroquois whom his King regarded as his children. 
But if they would allow him to build a fort near, that he 
would defend them, the Kaskaskias, against the Iroquois if 
they were attacked. He also told them he wished to know 
whether he could navigate a large boat from that point to the 
mouth of the Mississippi river, since it was very difficult as 
well as dangerous to bring such European goods as the Indians 
would like to have from New France by way of the Great 
Lakes, and that it could not well be done bv coming across the 



A Student's History of Illinois. 51 

Iroquois country as they would object since the Illinois In- 
dians and the Iroquois were enemies. 

The Kaskaskia chiefs told La Salle that the mouth of the 
Mississippi was only twenty days' travel away and that there 
were no obstructions to navigation. Certain Indian slaves 
taken in battle said they had been at the mouth of the river 
and that they had seen ships at sea that made noises like 
thunder. This made La Salle the more anxious to reach the 
mouth of the river and take possession of the country. The 
chiefs gave consent to the construction of the fort and La Salle 
had a bright vision before him. This vision was sadly clouded 
on the morrow when an Indian revealed to him the visit to 
the chiefs, on the night before, of a Miami chief by the name 
of Monso who tried to undermine the influence of La Salle. 
He said La Salle was deceiving them. In a council that day 
he revealed his knowledge of the visit of Monso and by great 
diplomacy won the Kaskaskia chiefs to his cause the second 
time. It was supposed this chief Monso was sent at the sug- 
gestion of Father Allouez. Four of La Salle's men deserted 
him and returned to the region of Lake Michigan. 

69. Fort Crevecoeur. — La Salle, fearing the influence 
of the stories among the Indians, upon his men, decided to 
separate from them and go further down the river where he 
could construct his fort and build his boat. On the evening of 
the 15th of January, 1680, La Salle moved to a point on the 
east side of the river three miles below the present site of 
Peoria. There on a projection from the bluffs he built with 
considerable labor a fort which received the name of Creve- 
coeur. This was the fourth of the great chains of forts which 
La Salle had constructed, namely: Fort Frontenac at the 
outlet of Lake Ontario ; Fort Conti on the Niagara river ; 
Fort Miami at the mouth of St. Joseph river, and Crevecceur 
below Lake Peoria on the Illinois river. 

Fort Crevecoeur is currently believed to have been so named 
because of the disheartened frame of mind of La Salle, but 



52 A Student's History of Illinois. 

this would not be complimentary to the character of the man. 
It is now rather believed to have been named in honor of 
Tonty, since as a soldier in the Netherlands he took part in 
the destruction of Fort Crevecceur near the village of Bois le 
Due in the year 1672. 

In addition to the building of the fort La Salle began the 
construction of a vessel- with which to complete his journey 
to the mouth of the river. The lumber was sawed from the 
timber and rapid progress was made. The keel was 42 feet 
long, and the beam was 12 feet. While this work was in pro- 
gress and during the month of February, several representa- 
tives of tribes from up the Mississippi and down the Missis- 
sippi, as well as from the Miamis to the northeast, came to 
consult with La Salle. His presence in the Illinois country 
was known far and near. The Indians from the upper Mis- 
sissippi brought tempting descriptions of routes to the western 
sea and also of the wealth of beaver with which their country 
abounded. 

70. Hennepin. — La Salle desired to make a visit to Fort 
Frontenac for sails, cordage, iron, and other material for his 
boat, besides he was very anxious to hear something definite 
about the Griffin and its valuable cargo. But before embark- 
ing on his long journey, he fitted out an expedition consisting 
of Michael Ako, Antony Auguel, and Father Hennepin, to ex- 
plore the upper Mississippi. Michael Ako was the leader. They 
started February the 29th, passed down the Illinois river and 
thence up the Mississippi. They carried goods worth a thous- 
and livres, which were to be exchanged for furs. Father Hen- 
nepin took St. Anthony for his patron Saint and when near 
the falls which we know by that name, he set up a post upon 
which he engraved the Cross and the coat of arms of France. 
He was shortly captured by the Indians and was later released 
by a French trader. He Lhut. He then returned to France. 

71. Crevecoeur Abandoned. — Before starting for 
Frontenac, La Salle commissioned Tontv to have charge of 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



53 



the Crevecoeur fort, and also to build a fort at Starved Rock. 
On March 1. the day following the departure of Ako and 
Hennepin for the upper Mississippi, La Salle departed, with 
three companions, for Fort Frontenac. This was a long, dan- 
gerous, and discouraging journey. Every venture which he 
had engaged in seems to have failed. After finally getting 
together supplies such as were needed, he started on his return 
journey. He was continually hearing stories from the travellers 
of the desertion of Crevecoeur. When he came within a few 
miles of the Kaskaskia village he began to see signs of destruc- 
tion. On arriving at the village nothing but a few blackened 
posts remained. The Iroquois Indians had made a campaign 
against the Illinois Indians and their trail could be traced by 
death and destruction. 

When La Salle left the locality of Starved Rock for Fort 
Crevecoeur, on his way from Canada, he passed the Iroquois 
on one side of the river and the Illinois on the other. He 
searched everywhere for Tonty but could find no trace of him. 
He came to Crevecoeur about the first of December, 1680, and 
found the fort deserted and the store-house plundered; the 
boat, however, was without damage. La Salle went to the 
mouth of the Illinois river in search of Tonty but without 
success. He returned to Fort Miami in the spring of 1681. 
Here he began the organization of all the Indian tribes into 
a sort of confederation. 

Upon the approach of the Iroquois shortly after the de- 
parture of La Salle from Fort Crevecoeur, in March, 1680, 
Tonty and his party were scattered far and near. Tonty and 
Father Membre made their way to Green Bay and from there 
to Mackinaw. La Salle heard of them here and went immedi- 
ately to them. Another expedition was organized. La Salle, 
Father Membre, and Tonty visited Fort Frontenac where 
supplies were procured and late in December, 1781, the expe- 
dition had crossed the Chicago portage. There were in this 



54 A Student's History of Illinois. 

company fifty-four people — twenty-three Frenchmen and 
thirty-one Indians. 

72. The Final Expedition. — They passed the Kaskas- 
kia village near Starved Rock but it was in ruins. On Janu- 
ary the 25th, 1682, they reached Fort Crevecceur. The fort 
was in fair condition. Here they halted six days, while the 
Indians made some elm bark canoes. They reached the Mis- 
sissippi the 6th of February. After a little delay they pro- 
ceeded down the river, passed the mouth of the Missouri and 
shortly after that a village of the Tamaroa Indians. The 
village contained one hundred and twenty cabins, but they 
were all deserted. La Salle left presents on the posts for the 
villagers when they returned. Grand Tower was passed, later 
the Ohio. The trip to the mouth of the Mississippi was with- 
out special interest. They reached the mouth of the river in 
April, and on the ninth of that month erected a post upon 
which they nailed the arms of France wrought from a copper 
kettle. A proclamation was prepared by the notary, Jacques 
de la Metairie, and read. It recited briefly their journey and 
a formal statement of the King's taking possession of the 
country drained by the Mississippi and its tributaries. 

73. The Return.— On the 10th of April the party began 
the return journey. La Salle was stricken with a severe ill- 
ness and was obliged to remain at Fort Prudhomme which had 
been erected on the Chickasaw bluffs just above Vicksburg. 
Tonty was sent forward to look after his leader's interest. He 
went by Fort Miami, but found everything in order. He 
reached Mackinaw the 22d of July. 

La Salle reached Crevecceur on his way north. He left 
eight Frenchmen here to hold this position. He reached Fort 
Miami, and from there passed on to Mackinaw. From here 
he sent Father Membre to France to report his discovery to 
the King, while he himself set about the building of Fort St. 
Louis, on Starved Rock. The detachment left by La Salle at 
Crevecceur was ordered north to Fort St. Louis, and he began 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



55 



to grant his followers small areas of land in recognition of 
their services with him in the past few years. The fort was 
completed and in March, 1683, the ensign of France floated 
to the breeze. The tribes for miles in circuit came to the val- 
ley about the fort and encamped. La Salle patiently looked 
for French settlers from New France but they did not come. 




Starved Rock. The Site of Old Fort St. Louis. 



74. La Salle Goes to France. — During the absence of 
La Salle at the mouth of the Mississippi, Count Frontenac 
had been superseded by Sieur de La Barre, who had assumed 
the duties of his office October 9, 1682. He was not friendly 
to La Salle's schemes of extending the possessions of France 
in the New World. La Salle suspected in the summer of 
1683 that the new governor was not in sympathy with him. 
And after a great deal of fruitless correspondence with the 
new governor, La Salle repaired to France to lay before the 
King his new discoveries as well as plans for the future. Tonty 
was displaced as commander at Fort St. Louis and ordered to 
Quebec. La Salle not only secured a fleet for the trip to the 



56 A Student's History of Illinois. 

mouth of the Mississippi, but also had Tonty restored to com- 
mand at Fort St. Louis. La Salle sailed to the Gulf in the 
spring of 1685. He failed to find the mouth of the river and 
landed in what is now Texas. After hardships and discourage- 
ment almost beyond belief, he was murdered by some of his 
own men the latter part of March, 1687. 

75. Tonty. — La Salle went to France in the summer of 
1683 and left Tonty in charge of his interests in the Illinois 
country. Tonty was active in the defense of his superior's 
interest. In this duty he was forced to defend the Illinois 
country against the Iroquois, and to struggle against La Salle's 
enemies in New France. He made expeditions of trade and 
exploration throughout all the western country, took part in a 
great campaign against the Iroquois, and was the life of a 
growing community around Fort St. Louis. 

The death of La Salle occurred in the spring of 1687. Just 
one year previous to this Tonty had made a trip to the Gulf 
in search of La Salle but failing to find him returned sorrow- 
fully to Fort St. Louis. In September, 1688, Tonty heard 
definitely of the death of La Salle. In December of that year 
he organized an expedition to rescue the colonists whom La 
Salle had left on the coast of the Gulf. This expedition also 
proved a failure. For the next ten years Tonty remained in 
the region of the Lakes, but when Bienville began planting 
new settlements near the mouth of the Mississippi river, Tonty 
abandoned Fort St. Louis and joined the new settlements. 
He died near Mobile in 1704. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 57 



CHAPTER VII. 

PERMANENT SETTLEMENTS IN ILLINOIS. 

76. Kaskaskia. — Prior to the close of the seventeenth 
century, there were at least four points where permanent set- 
tlements might easily have been planted. These were at Chi- 
cago, Fort St. Louis, the Kaskaskia village below Ottawa, and 
at Fort Crevecceur. Whether any of them ought to be regarded 
as the first settlement is doubtful. Some have contended that 
Kaskaskia and Cahokia in the American bottom were settled 
as early as the return of La Salle from the mouth of the Mis- 
sissippi in the year 1682. Again others have claimed that 
Tonty planted Kaskaskia. in 1686, but Tonty accompanied St. 
Cosme, the missionary, down the Mississippi in the year 1699. 
On the 5th of December of that year they reached the Mis- 
sissippi from the Illinois and the next day which would be 
the 6th they reached the village of the Tamaroa Indians which 
was evidently the village of Cahokia. These Indians had 
never seen a "black gown" which is good proof that there was 
no mission at that point. A few days later they erected a 
cross on a high bluff on the right bank of the Mississippi river 
and "prayed that God might grant that the Cross which had 
never been known in those regions, might triumph there." 
The point was marked on an old map about fifteen miles be- 
low the present mouth of the Kaskaskia river. 

Father James Gravier, who was the priest in charge of 
the mission of the Immaculate Conception in 1695 and again 
in 1703. made a journey from the portage of Chicago down 
the Illinois river in September, 1700, and says when he ar- 
rived at the Kaskaskia mission which was then in charge of 
Father Marest that the people had moved down the river. He 



58 A Student's History of Illinois. 

seems to have overtaken them on the Illinois river and to have 
marched with them four days. He left Father Marest sick at 
the village of the Tamaroas (Cahokia) and proceeded down 
the river, Shortly after this the mission was located at the 
village of Kaskaskia a few miles above the month of the river 
of the same name. 

The records of the church of the "Immaculate Conception 
of onr Lady' 1 now in possession of the priest in charge at New 
Kaskaskia, show that baptisms were performed npon children 
born in the parish — three in 1695, one in 1697, two in 1698, 
two in 1699. one in 1700, one in 1701, two in 1702, etc. 

The Indians and the few Frenchmen who came to the 
Kaskaskia of the last century, built their huts by weaving 
grasses and reeds into a frame-work of upright poles set in 
rectangular form. The roof was thatched as was the custom 
among the Indians. The ground was very rich and a rude 
sort of agriculture was begun. In those days, the travel up 
and down the Mississippi was considerable. The French were 
just taking possession of the mouth of the river and there was 
need of communication with Xew France and hence the travel. 

77. Life in Old Kaskaskia. — A very interesting pic- 
ture has been given of the life in this village. The Kaskaskia 
Church Becords show that on March 20. 1695, James Gravier 
was the priest in charge. September 7, 1699, Gabriel Marest 
was officially connected with the church. April 13, 1703, 
James Gravier officiated. In 1707, January 19, P. J. Mermet 
officiated in the baptism of an infant. Father Marest says of 
Mermet that he was the soul of the mission, and in describing 
his work he says: 

The gentle virtues and fervid eloquence of Mermet made him the 
soul of the Mission of Kaskaskia. At early dawn his pupils came to 
church, dressed neatly and modestly each in a deer-skin or a robe 
sewn together from several skins. After receiving lessons they 
chanted canticles ; mass was then said in presence of all the chris- 
tians, the French, and the converts — the women on one side and the 
men on the other. From prayers and instruction the missionaries 



A Student's History of Illinois. 59 

proceeded to visit the sick and administer medicine, and their skill 
as physicians did more than all the rest to win confidence. In the 
afternoon the catechism was taught in the presence of the young and 
the old, when every one without distinction of rank or age answered 
the questions of the missionary. At evening all would assemble at 
the chapel for instruction, for prayer, and to chant the hymns of the 
church. On Sundays and festivals, even after vespers, a homily was 
pronounced; at the close of the day parties would meet in houses 
to recite the chaplets in alternate choirs and sing psalms till late 
at night. These psalms were often homilies, with words set to fa- 
miliar tunes. Saturdays and Sundays were the days appointed for 
confession and communion, and every convert confessed once in a 
fortnight. The success of this was such that marriages of the French 
immigrants were sometimes solemnized with the daughters of Illi- 
nois, according to the rites of the Catholic church. The occupation 
of the country was a cantonment among the native proprietors of the 
forests and prairies. 

From this we see that apparently one of the chief interests 
of the colony was religious. And without doubt the priest did 
exert great influence over the settlement. But we must not 
forget that the trader was abroad in the land. His influence 
with the Indians was not less marked than that of the priest. 
He held in his grasp the means by which the Indians could 
be influenced for good if he wished, for ill if he chose. He 
had long since discovered that blankets, and knives, and cali- 
coes, and fire water exerted very great influence upon the 
natives. The trader and the priest were for several years the 
dominant factors in the community life of our first perma- 
nent settlement. Every one hunted and fished, and all con- 
formed largely to the habits and customs of the Indians. 

78. Cahokia. — Cahokia was situated a very short dis- 
tance below the present city of East St. Louis, probably six 
miles from the Relay Depot. This was called the "Mission 
of St. Sulpice." The early priests who labored here were 
Fathers Pinet and Bineteau. Pinet is said to have preached 
with such power and attractiveness that his chapel could not 
hold the multitudes who came to hear him. Bineteau wan- 



60 A Student's History of Illinois. 

dered off with a band of Indians and died in the interior of 
the Country. After the death of Pinet, Father Gabriel Marest 
came to this mission. Cahokia was a good trading point with 
the northern Indians. Evidently the Peorias traded with the 
Cahokia people, for in 1711 Father Marest left Cahokia to 
serve the Peoria Indians, and this action was taken after what 
appears to be some pleading. The soil was fertile and its cul- 
tivation commenced at an early date. The village was first 
built on the east bank of the Mississippi and on a little creek 
which flowed across the alluvial bottom. By 1721, the Mis- 
sissippi had carved a new channel westward so that the village 
was one-half league from the river. The little creek also took 
another course and thus the village was left inland. Cahokia 
as well as Kaskaskia received quite an increase in French pop- 
ulation in 1708, and farming was begun in some systematic 
way. 

79. Louisiana. — When La Salle went to France in 
1683 and got permission to organize a fleet, it was his inten- 
tion to come into the Illinois country by way of the mouth 
of the Mississippi, and thus avoid having to pass through New 
France where his enemies would have delighted to thwart all 
his plans. He missed the mouth of the river, lost his life, and 
the expedition ended in failure. But the King who had just 
signed a treaty of peace with England (at the close of King 
William's War) , saw the necessity of possessing the mouth of 
the Missisippi river. Expeditions were therefore organized to 
take possession of the Louisiana country, by way of the mouth 
of the great river. Iberville sailed from France in 1698 with 
two ships expecting to enter the mouth of the Mississippi. He 
anchored in Mobile bay and reached the Mississippi by small 
boats. Here he was given a letter which Tonty had written 
while searching for La Salle in 1686. The letter had been 
left in the forks of a tree. Iberville now knew he was on the 
Mississippi river. Not finding a good place to plant a colony 
he returned to Mobile bay and began a settlement at what 



A Student's History of Illinois. 61 

came to be Biloxi. From now on for the next half century 
every move by the French government meant the completion 
of a great chain of fortresses between the mouth of the great 
river and New France. All the territory drained by the Mis- 
sissippi was named Louisiana by La Salle. It thus occurred 
that Illinois came to be a part of Louisiana. 

80. War and Immigration. — From 1702 to 1713, 
France waged war against England. This is what is usually 
known as Queen Anne's war. The immediate effect of this 
was not felt in the Louisiana territory. The struggle in the 
New World was confined to the regions of New England, and 
New France. The end of the war found England in posses- 
sion of Acadia and of the region around Hudson Bay. How- 
ever, France had shown her strength by repelling all attempts 
of England to get control of the St. Lawrence river. 

While the war was in progress France was not altogether 
unmindful of her new territory of Louisiana. During the 
period prior to 1712, two thousand five hundred settlers came 
to Louisiana .by way of the Gulf of Mexico. In 1712, only 
four hundred whites and twenty negro slaves were to be found 
in Louisiana. The yellow fever raged at Biloxi in 1708 and only 
fourteen officers, seventy-six soldiers, and thirteen sailors were 
spared. By 1712 the colony was on its feet again and very 
flattering reports went to France about Louisiana and espe- 
cially of the Illinois country. 

81. Grant to Crozat. — The English colonists who came to 
the Atlantic coast in the early part of the seventeenth century 
were not the only colonists who spent their time and energy in 
looking for precious stones and precious metals. The French 
traders and explorers were continually dreaming of gold, sil- 
ver, and other precious products of the earth. It was gener- 
ally believed in France that the interior of the New World 
was rich in mineral wealth. 

The wars which the King was forced to carry on had de- 
prived him, so he thought, of the opportunity to open these 



62 A Student's History of Illinois. 

rich mines and thus replenish a depleted treasury. He there- 
fore concluded that rather than delay in the matter he would 
better grant the monopoly of the trade and commerce in the 
Louisiana region to some one who could and would develop 
its wonderful wealth. In looking around for some one in 
whom he could repose such a great undertaking, he settled on 
one Anthony Crozat, a very rich merchant of Paris, and a 
man who had on former occasions rendered great service to 
the King and to the Kingdom. The King therefore issued a 
proclamation creating letters patent and granting to the said 
Crozat the following monopoly for a period of fifteen years. 
(Abridged) : 

And, whereas, upon the information we have received, concerning 
the disposition and situation of the said countries, known at present, 
by the name of Louisiana, we are of the opinion that there may be 
established therein a considerable commerce, so much the more ad- 
vantageous to our Kingdom, in that there has hitherto been a neces- 
sity of fetching from foreigners the greatest part of the commodities 
which may be brought from thence ; and because, in exchange there- 
of, we need carry thither nothing but commodities of the growth and 
manufacture of our own Kingdom ; . . . . 

We have resolved to grant the commerce of the country of Louisi- 
ana, to the Sieur Anthony Crozat, our councillor, secretary of the 
household, crown and revenue, to whom we intrust the execution of 
this project. 

We permit him to search for, open, and dig all sorts of mines, 
veins, and minerals, throughout the whole extent of the said country 
of Louisiana, and to transport the profits thereof to any port of 
France, during the said fifteen years, .... 

We likewise permit him to search for precious stones and pearls, 
paying us the fifth part in the same manner as is mentioned for gold 
and silver. 

Our edicts, ordinances, and customs, and the usages of the mayor- 
alty and shrievalty of Paris, shall be observed for laws and customs 
in the said country of Louisiana. 

This grant to Crozat empowered him to open mines of 
gold, silver, etc., to search for stones and pearls, to discover 
new lands, to control the commerce, trade, etc., and to retain 



A Student's History of Illinois. 63 

this privilege for fifteen years. Crozat was to pay to the King 
one-fifth part of all gold, silver, precious stones, etc. The 
territory was understood to be the region drained by the Mis- 
sissippi river and its tributaries. It is said that Crozat was 
authorized to bring slaves to the Louisiana territory. Antoine 
Cadillac who had, in the year 1701, founded Detroit was made 
governor of Louisiana and was given a share in the profits of 
Crozat's grant. They were very deeply interested in the com- 
merce as well as in the mineral wealth of the Louisiana coun- 
try. Two pieces of silver ore from Mexico were shown the 
governor at Kaskaskia and he was wild with joy and excite- 
ment at the prospect of mines of untold wealth. He visited the 
regions around the lakes and made discoveries of lead and cop- 
per but no silver or gold was found. This grant to Crozat seems 
to have had the effect of killing the interest in trade and com- 
merce in the Louisiana country. There seems to have been 
quite a deal of jealousy among the French traders toward Cro- 
zat. They grew tired of his monopoly, the English and Span- 
ish did everything they could to cripple his interests, "and 
every Frenchman in Louisiana was not only hostile to his in- 
terests, but was aiding and assisting to foment difficulties in 
the colony." Crozat in five years spent 425,000 livres and re- 
ceived in return in trade 300,000 livres, a loss of 125,000 livres 
in five years. He resigned his grant to the crown in 1717. 

82. The Western Company. — It so happened that at 
the time Crozat surrendered his grant to the crown, that there 
was being formed in France a company which is known by 
several names, but usually called the Western Company. John 
Law, the great Scotch financier, was at the head of this com- 
pany. Its purpose was to re-enforce the finances of France. 
It was expected that large plantations would be begun in 
Louisiana, mines opened, and extensive trade carried on in 
furs and farm products, and large returns were expected to 
come from all this. Emigrants poured into the Louisiana 
country. Over 800 arrived in August, 1717. Law sent 300 



64 A Student's History of Illinois. 

slaves to the territory, and French and German emigrants 
were freely transported to the Mississippi valley. Following 
Cadillac, came Governor FEpinay who served only a short 
time. Bienville, who was formerly connected with the prov- 
ince, was then made governor. He founded New Orleans in 

1718. In that same year, December, there arrived at Kaskas- 
kia a Lieutenant Boisbriant with about a hundred soldiers 
with orders to assume military command of the Illinois dis- 
trict in the Province of Louisiana. 

83. Fort Chartres. — Boisbriant came as the King's 
military representative with authority to hold the country 
and defend the King's subjects. He was also authorized to 
build a fort. The place selected for the fort was a point about 
sixteen miles to the northwest of Kaskaskia, on the alluvial 
bottoms of the Mississippi river. The structure was of wood 
and was probably made of two rows of vertical logs tilled be- 
tween with earth. It was named Fort de Chartres, pre- 
sumably after the King's son whose title was Due de Chartres. 
Inside the palisaded walls were the officers' quarters and a 
store-house for the company's goods. It is said that an old 
fort built by Crozat stood near by. Fort Chartres, as con- 
structed by Boisbriant, stood for thirty years and was the 
center of great military, civil, and social life. We shall have 
occasion to refer to Fort Chartres again. 

The fort was barely done when there arrived Phillipe 
Francois de Renault, a representative of the Company of the 
West, in fact he was Director General of the mining opera- 
tions of the company. He had left France the year before, in 
the spring of 1719, with 200 miners, laborers, and a full com- 
plement of mining utensils. On his way to the Province of 
Louisiana he bought in St. Domingo 500 Guinea negroes to 
work the mines and plantations of the province. These were 
not all brought to the Illinois district but a large number was, 
and this is the origin of slavery in the State of Illinois. In 

1719, also, 500 Guinea negroes were brought to the region of 



A Student's History of Illinois. 65 

New Orleans and Natchez. Thus by 1722, 1,000 negro slaves 
were in the Mississippi valley. 

Renault made Fort Chartres his headquarters for a short 
time, and from here he sent his expert miners and skilled 
workmen in every direction hunting for the precious metals. 
The bluffs skirting the American Bottoms on the east were 
diligently searched for minerals, but nothing encouraging was 
found. In what is now Jackson, Randolph, and St. Clair 
counties the ancient traces of furnaces were visible as late as 
1850. Silver creek which runs south and through Madison 
and St. Clair counties was so named on the supposition that 
the metal was plentiful along that stream. 

Failing to discover any metals or precious stones, Renault 
turned his attention to the cultivation of the land in order 
to support his miners. 

84. Grant to Renault.— May 10, 1722, the military 
commandant, Lieut. Boisbriant representing the King, and 
Des Ursins representing the Royal Indies Company (the Com- 
pany of the West) granted to Charles Davie a tract of land 
5 arpents wide (58.35 rods) and reaching from the Kaskaskia 
on the east to the Mississippi on the west. This is said to 
have been the first grant of land made in the Illinois district 
in Louisiana. 

The next year, June 14, the same officials made a grant to 
Renault of a tract of land abutting or facing on the Missis- 
sippi, more than three miles wide and extending backward 
northeast into the country six miles. This tract contained 
more than 13,000 acres of land. It reached back to the bluffs, 
probably four to five miles. It is said the grant was made in 
consideration of the labor of Renault's slaves, probably upon 
some work belonging to the Company of the West. This 
grant was up the Mississippi three and a half miles above 
Fort Chartres. The village of St. Phillipe was probably 
started before the grant was made, at least the village was on 
the grant. 



66 A Student's History of Illinois. 

85. Prairie du Rocher. — As soon as Fort Chartres was 
complete there grew up a village near by, which "usually went 
by the name of New Chartres. About the year 1722 the vil- 




A Bird's-eye View of the Village of Prairie du Rocher as it appears to-day. 

lage of Prairie du Eocher was begun. It was located near 
the bluffs due east from Fort Chartres about three and a half 
miles. It is said that some of the houses were built of stone, 
there being an abundance of that material in the bluffs just 
back of the village. To this village there was granted a very 
large "common" which it holds to this day. The common is 
about three miles square and lies back of the village upon the 
upland. 

86. Five French Villages. — There were, probably, as 
early as 1725, five permanent French villages in the American 
Bottom, namely: — Cahokia, settled not earlier than 1698, and 
not later than 1700; Kaskaskia, settled in the latter part of 
the year 1700, or in the beginning of the year 1701 ; New 
Chartres, the village about Fort Chartres, commenced about 
the same time the fort was erected, 1720; Prairie du Eocher, 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



67 




Map to show the Location of the Five French Villages in the American Bottom. 



68 A Student's History of Illinois. 

settled about 1722, or possibly as late as the grant to Bois- 
briant which was in 1733; St. Phillipe, settled very soon after 
Renault received the grant from the Western Company which 
was 1723. 

The villages were all much alike. They were a straggling- 
lot of crude cabins, built with little if any reference to streets, 
and constructed with no pretention to architectural beauty. 
The inhabitants were French, and Indians, and negroes. 

87. Industry. — The industrial life of these people con- 
sisted of fishing and hunting, cultivation of the soil, commer- 
cial transactions, some manufacturing, and mining. The fish- 
ing and hunting was partly a pastime, but the table was often 
liberally supplied from this source. The soil was fertile and 
yielded abundantly to a very indifferent cultivation. Wheat 
was grown and the grain ground in crude water mills usually 
situated at the mouths of the streams as they emerged from 
the bluffs. And it is said one wind-mill was erected in the 
Bottom. They had swine and black cattle, says Father Charle- 
voix in 1721. The Indians raised poultry, spun the wool of 
the buffalo and wove a cloth which they dyed black, yellow, 
or red. 

In the first thirty or forty years of the eighteenth century, 
there was considerable commerce carried on between these vil- 
lages and the mouth of the river. New Orleans was estab- 
lished in 1818 and came to be, in a very early day, an im- 
portant shipping point. The gristmills ground the wheat 
which the farmers raised in the bottom and the flour was 
shipped in keel boats and flat boats. Fifteen thousand deer 
skins were sent in one year to New Orleans. Buffalo meat and 
other products of the forest, as well as the produce of the 
farms, made up the cargoes. Considerable lead was early 
shipped to the mother country. 

The return vessels brought the colonists rice, sugar, coffee, 
manufactured articles of all kinds, tools, implements, and mu- 
nitions of war. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



69 



The boatmen suffered great hardships in bringing their 
cargoes from New Orleans up the Mississippi river. These 
brave men were obliged to endure all kinds of weather. They 
were subject to the fevers incident to a life on the water in a 
hot climate. The treacherous Indians lined the banks, and 
life on the boats was never safe. They had often to pull their 
boats up the strong current by means of long ropes. But with 
all this the boatmen were the happiest of all the people. 

88. Society. — The social life of these people was one 
of pleasure. It is said they passed much of their time in sing- 
ing, dancing, and gaming. The Frenchmen married the 
squaws of the different tribes and this of necessity lowered 
the tone of the social life. The population became mixed, 
and consequently degenerated. There can be little doubt that 
there were many illegitimate children born. The Parish rec- 
ords might lead one to suppose this for they are not uniform 




Background: Register of St. Anne Parish from J 7 f 6 to the Present Time. 

Foreground, from left to right: J. Mission Chalice and Paten; 2. Pyxis, 
the Sacred Vessel in which Holy Communion was Brought to the Sick; 
3. Baptismal Requisites; 4. Oil Stocks; 5. The Ostensorium. 



70 A Student's History of Illinois. 

in their statement that all children are born of legitimate 
marriages. The following is from the Parish records of the 
St. Anne Church: 

In the year 1743, on the 28th of December of the same year, I, 
the undersigned, N. Laurent, priest, missionary apostolic, I baptized 
in the absence of M. J. Gagnon missionary of St. Anne's Parish of 
Fort Chartres, a daughter, born in the same month and day men- 
tioned above, of the legitimate marriage of Andrew Thomas des 
J ardius and of Marie Joseph Larette .... 

Laurent, P. M. Ap. 

The common people were modest in their apparel. They 
wore the cheaper fabrics. In summer coarse cotton cloth, 
while in winter coarse woolen blankets were much prized. 
Handkerchiefs were worn over the heads by men and women. 

While they were light hearted they were light headed as well, and 
thriftless ; the poorer portion laboring long enough to gain a bare 
subsistence each passing day, the rest of the time being spent in 
sporting, hunting, and wine drinking. 

89. The Church. — There was entire harmony with re- 
gard to religious matters. Every one was a member of the 
church. The Indians in most cases were regarded as mem- 
bers. There were churches in all the villages except possibly 
in St. Phillipe. The daily requirements of the church have 
been pointed out in the preceding pages. 

90. Education. — Schools were unknown — at least the 
kind of schools we are familiar with. The priests may have 
given some instruction in the rudiments of an education. Cer- 
tainly something was done in the line of instruction for it is 
stated that a college was founded in Kaskaskia as early as 
1721, and in connection a monastery was erected. 

91. Government. — The government was very simple, 
at least until about 1730. From the settlement in 1700 up 
to the coming of Crozat there was no civil government. Con- 
troversies were few and the priest's influence was such that all 
disputes which arose were settled by that personage. Recently, 
documents have been recovered from the courthouse in dies- 



A Student's History of Illinois. 71 

ter which throw considerable light upon the question of gov- 
ernment in the French villages, but as yet they have not been 
thoroughly sorted and interpreted. 

92. The Western Company Disbands. — The Company 
of the West realized that its task of developing the territory 
of Louisiana was an unprofitable one, and they surrendered 
their charter to the King, and Louisiana became, as we are 
accustomed to say, a royal province by proclamation of the 
King, April 10, 1732. 

The two efforts, the one by Crozat and the other by the 
Company of the West had both resulted in failure so far as 
profit to either was concerned. Crozat had spent 425,000 
livres and realized in return only 300,000 livres. And al- 
though a rich man the venture ruined him financially. The 
Company of the West put thousands of dollars into the at- 
tempt to develop the territory for which no money in return 
was ever received. But the efforts of both were a lasting good 
to the territory itself. Possibly the knowledge of the geogra- 
phy of the country which resulted from the explorations in 
search of precious metals, was not the least valuable. Among 
other things, these two efforts brought an adventurous class of 
people into Illinois and this put life into the sleepy ongoing 
of priest and parishioner. 



72 A Student's History of Illinois. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

GOVERNMENT IN ILLINOIS FROM 1700 TO 1765. 

93. Authority in Illinois. — In the Proces Verbal 
which La Salle's notary, La Matairie, prepared for promulga- 
tion at the mouth of the Mississippi river, April 9, 1682, 
there was a declaration that all the territory drained by the 
Mississippi, and comprehended under the term Louisiana, was 
taken possession of "In the name of the most high, mighty, 
invincible, and victorious Prince, Louis the Great." In the 
grant from the King to La Salle of the Louisiana territory 
(which included Illinois) in the spring of 1684, the latter 
was made commandant of all the Louisiana territory. Fol- 
lowing La Salle's death in 1687, nothing was done till 1699 
when Iberville was sent to find the mouth of the Mississippi 
and to found a colony there. For the next twelve years only 
confusion reigned as to authority in Illinois. The Company 
of Canada found fault Avith Iberville for encroaching upon 
their territory. The growth of the colonies at the mouth of 
the Mississippi was very sIoav. Poverty stared them in the 
face and the government of the Louisiana territory was so 
weak that its influence was not felt in the Illinois country. 
Neither was the authority of Quebec felt here prior to 1712. 

The grant to Crozat was signed September 14, 1712. It 
must be remembered that this was purely a commercial grant, 
but it included all the territory drained by the Mississippi. 
After a preliminary discussion of the previous attempts at 
colonization, and a justification of this grant to Crozat, Ar- 
ticle I. provides : 

Our pleasure is, that all the aforesaid lands.... be and remain 
comprised under the name of the government of Louisiana, which 
shall be dependent upon the general government of New France to 



A Student's History of Illinois. 73 

which it is subordinate; and further, that all the lands which it 
possesses from the Illinois country, be united so far as occasion re- 
quires, to the general government of New France, and become a part 
thereof. 

Article VII. provides, — Our edicts, ordinances, and customs and 
the usages of the mayoralty and shrievalty of Paris shall be ob- 
served for laws and customs in the said country of Louisiana. 

By an edict issued December 18, 1712, the governor and commis- 
sairie-ordonnateur were constituted a tribunal for three years from 
the day of its meeting. . . .The tribunal was afterward re-established 
with increased numbers and more definite powers. But it does not 
appear that any civil government was exercised in the Illinois coun- 
try during the continuance of Crozat's grant. Reynolds in his Pio- 
neer History of Illinois says, there was no organized government 
in the country, until the Company of the West was established. The 
small number of inhabitants, and the destitution of wealth, made a 
government entirely useless. 

The government in Illinois at this time consisted of "The 
Provincial Council of the Illinois." This Council consisted 
of Pierre Boisbriant, military commandant ; Marc Antoine 
de La Loire, civil officer; Michael Chassin, commissairie for 
the Company. This council made Fort Chartres the center 
of civil life in the Illinois country. Boisbriant and his asso- 
ciates "dispensed justice, regulated titles, administered es- 
tates, and in fact established the court which for more than 
forty years, decided the cases which arose in the Illinois coun- 
try, according to the civil law." 

There was a Superior Council for Louisiana to which ap- 
peals might be made from the decisions of the Council for 
Illinois. 

In 1721, September 20, the Company of the West, to whom 
the King granted the land and its resources, divided Louisiana 
into nine military and civil districts. Illinois was in the ninth 
district which included the territory between the Ohio and the 
Illinois rivers. The order of civil government was changed 
very little if any. There seems to have been only a command- 
ant and a judge in the District Council. On February 9, 1727, 



74 A Student's History of Illinois. 

the people of Kaskaskia addressed a petition to The Provin- 
cial Commandant and Judge of the country of Illinois rela- 
tive to the deed of their common lands. The petition was 
a long and earnest one, and was considered by the command- 
ant and judge, and referred to the Superior Council at New 
Orleans. DeLieite was commandant, and Chaffin was judge 
at this time. 

94. A Royal Province. — In 1732, the Company of the 
West was relieved of its obligations to develop the Louisiana 
territory. The King then assumed complete control. Louis- 
iana was separated from New France in governmental mat- 
ters, and Illinois was made a dependency of Louisiana. The 
officers for Louisiana were a governor, an intendant, and a 
royal council, all appointed by the King. 

The governor of Louisiana was to appoint the command- 
ant over the Illinois dependency. The next officer to the com- 
mandant was the commissary, who was sometimes called the 
intendant, and acted as judge. In addition there was a num- 
ber of administrative officers such as clerks, notaries, etc. The 
commandant was certainly a very fortunate official. "The 
whole Indian trade was under his control, and no one could 
participate in it, except on condition of his sharing the 
profits. '■ If goods were brought into the territory without 
his consent, they were confiscated. He also had the authority 
to grant lands, and to sustain a system of cadetships. The 
cadets frequently received commissions in the army. All this 
power made it easy for him to rule with little or no friction. 
He also exercised appellate judicial functions except in capital 
cases which were cognizable by the Supreme Council of Louis- 
iana. 

95. The Commandants. — The names and dates of the 
commandants from 1718, to the coming of the English are 
as follows : 



A Student's History of Illinois. 75 

Duque de Boisbriant 1718-1725 

Du Tisne 1725-1726 

De Lieite 1726-1730 

St. Ange de Bellerive 1730-1734 

Pierre D'Artaguette 1734-1736 

De la Buissoniere 1736-1740 

Benoist De St. Claire 1740-1743 

Chevalier De Bertel 1743-1749 

Benoist De St. Claire 1749-1751 

Chevalier de Macarty 1751-1760 

Neyon De Villiers 1760-1764 

St. Ange de Bellerive 1764-1765 

Shortly after the territory of Louisiana became a royal 
province, the Chickasaw Indians who lived in the region of 
northern Mississippi became very troublesome. These In- 
dians opposed the encroachment of the settlements of the 
French upon their territory, and so long as they controlled 
the Mississippi river, navigation was dangerous. 

An expedition was planned by the commandant of the Illi- 
nois country, De Artaguette, who took soldiers from Fort 
Chartres and Post Vincennes and moved south from the 
mouth of the Ohio. Bienville was to come from New Orleans 
with a force and the Indians were to be crushed between the 
two armies. The expedition was a very unfortunate affair. 
De Artaguette was deserted by his Indian allies, and the army 
from the south did not make its appearance ; and believing it 
his duty to attack instead of to retreat he led his army against 
the foe. He was badly beaten in battle, and being wounded 
was forced to surrender. There were captured with De Artag- 
uette, Chevalier de Vincennes, Father Senat, Du Tisne, and 
Pierre St. Ange, brother of a later commandant. All of these 
were burned at the stake. The Chickasaws were induced to 
make peace which they only partially kept. But later the 
commerce between the Illinois country and the settlements at 
the mouth of the river grew to large proportions. 

96. King George's War. — The war usually called King 
George's war, from 1744-48, was scarcely noticeable in the 



76 A Student's History of Illinois. 

Illinois country. There were no British as far west as this 
region as early as this date. The Illinois people were very 
prosperous in the ten or fifteen years previous to the opening 
of the French and Indian war. In 1745, a severe storm de- 
stroyed the crop in the lower Louisiana territory, but the set- 
tlements around Kaskaskia and Yincennes were able to relieve 
the distress. It is stated that 4,000 sacks of flour of 100 pounds 
each were shipped to the New Orleans market, in the fall of 
1715, from the Illinois country. The flour was sacked in 
deer-skins. 

97. French in the Ohio Valley. — The French were by 
1750, well settled in Canada, Illinois, and on the lower Mis- 
sissippi. They had never occupied the Ohio valley, but in 
1749, Celeron De Bienville was sent from Canada to lay claim 
to the Ohio region by depositing lead plates in numerous 
places along that river. A map was made of this expedition 
and public notice given to the English, not to allow English 
traders in this valley. The next year Christopher Gist, an 
agent of the Ohio Land Company, was sent into the same ter- 
ritory to make some preparation for English settlements. It 
was now seen that there would be a conflict between the Eng- 
lish and French for the possession of the Ohio valley, and as a 
matter of preparation the French began renewed activity in 
the building of forts and repairing of old ones. To so great 
an extent was this preparation made by the French that it is 
said there were sixty forts between the mouth of the St. Law- 
rence by way of the Great Lakes and the Illinois country, to 
the mouth of the Mississippi river. 

98. Fort Chartres. — At no place in all the French pos- 
sessions was there so much stress put upon fort-building as 
in the Illinois country. We have seen that Chevalier de Ma- 
carty came to Fort Chartres as commandant in 1751. He was 
a major of engineers, and he brought witli him instruction 
from the King to rebuild Fort Chartres. The fort had been 



A Student's History of Illinois. 77 

constructed originally of timbers in 1720-1, by De Boisbriant. 
Macarty had instruction to construct the new fort of stone. 




The old Powder Magazine in Old Fort Chartres. A portion of the Foundation 

of the East Wall of the Fort May be Seen to the 

Right of the Old Building. 



The place selected for the new fort was not very far from 
the wooden structure. The site was about one-half mile from 
the river, and about twenty-one miles northwest of the present 
city of Chester. 

The fort was constructed according to plans drawn by 
Lieut. Jean B. Saussier, a French engineer. It was built of 
stone quarried from the bluffs not far from the present town 
of Prairie du Eocher, some three and a half miles east of the 
site of the fort. Captain Bossu writing from Fort Chartres the 
15th of May, 1753, speaks of the plan to build the fort in such 
a way as to make one think the structure was not yet com- 
menced. On July 21, 1756, he writes from the same place 
saying — "I come once more to old Fort Chartres where I lay 
in a hut till I could get lodging in the new fort which is al- 
most finished. It is built of freestone (limestone) flanked 



78 A Student's History of Illinois. 

with four bastions and capable of containing 300 men." Cap- 
tain Philip Pittman of the Eoyal Engineers (English) visited 
the fort in 1766 or *tiS and gives the following description 
of it: 

The fort is an irregular quadrangle, the sides of the exterior 
polygon are four hundred and ninety feet : it is built of stone and 
plastered over. . . .the ditch has never been finished; the entrance to 
the fort is through a very handsome rustic gate; within the wall is 
a small banquette raised three feet for the men to stand on when 
they fire through the loopholes. The buildings within the fort are. 
the commandant's and the commissary's houses, the magazine of 
stores, corps de garde, and two barracks ; these occupy the square. 
Within the gorges of the bastions are, a powder magazine, a bake 
house, a prison, in the lower floor of which are four dungeons, and 
in the upper floor two rooms, and an outhouse belonging to the 
commandant. 

The commandant's house is thirty-two yards long, and ten broad; 
it contains a kitchen, a dining-room, a bed-chamber, one small room, 
five closets for servants and a cellar. The commissary's house (now 
occupied by officers) is built in the same line as this, its proportion 
and distribution of apartments are the same. Opposite these are 
the store-house and guard house, they are each thirty yards long 
and eight broad; the former consists of two large store-rooms (un- 
der which is a vaulted cellar) and a large room, a bed-chamber, and 
a closet for the storekeeper ; the latter, of a soldier's and officer's 
guard-room, a chapel, a bed-chamber and a closet for the chaplain 
and an artillery store-room. .. .It is generally allowed that this is 
the most commodious and best built fort in North America. 

The bank of the Mississippi, next the fort, is continually falling 
in, being worn away by the current, which has been turned from its 
course by a sand-bank, now increased to a considerable island cov- 
ered with willows : many experiments have been tried to stop this 
growing evil, but to no purpose. When the fort was begun (finished) 
in the year 1756, it was a good half mile from the water side; in 
the year 1766 it was but eighty paces: eight years ago the river was 
fordable to the island, the channel is now forty feet deep. 

In the year 1764 there were about forty families in the village 
near the fort, and a parish church dedicated to St. Anne and served 
by a Franciscan friar. In the following year, when the English 
took possession of the country, they abandoned their houses, except 
three or four poor families, and settled at the villages on the west 
side of the Mississippi, choosing to continue under the French gov- 
ernment. 

99. French and Indian War. — Illinois took a very active 
part in the war between England and France from 1755 



A Student's History of Illinois. 79 

to 1763. The story of Washington's journey to warn the 
French off of territory claimed for the Ohio Company is no 
doubt familiar to all. Washington returned to Virginia and 
gathered up a few soldiers and started to the "forks of the 
Ohio/'' to protect some workmen sent there to construct a fort. 
The workmen were driven from the forks and the French 
finished the fort. A detachment of French under command of 
Jumonville de Villiers was sent out to intercept Washington. 
This little detachment was attacked by Washington on May 
28, 1754, and Jumonville de Villiers and all his party killed 
or captured. 

Washington retreated to Fort Necessity. Coulon de Vil- 
liers at Fort Duquesne hearing of the death of his brother 
Jumonville was determined to avenge it. Another brother Capt. 
Neyon de Villiers was at this time stationed at Fort Chartres, 
the new fortress on the Mississippi. There were at this time 
1,000 soldiers stationed at Fort Chartres. Capt. Neyon de 
Villiers was ordered to proceed with all dispatch with his 
company of grenadiers to assist in the destruction of "Mon- 
sieur de Wachenston." 

The two brothers, Xeyou de Villiers and Coulon de Villiers, 
with 1,500 soldiers left Fort Duquesne the latter part of June, 
1754, and on the 3d of July, attacked "Monsieur Waehen- 
ston" who surrendered to the two brothers on the 4th of July, 
1754. Thus Illinois has the distinction of furnishing a part 
of the army which captured the Father of his country. 

Fort Duquesne was garrisoned most of the time till its 
capture by Washington, in November, 1758, by troops sent 
from Fort Chartres. The troops who were at the fort on the 
approach of Washington divided, a part going toward Canada, 
the smaller part escaping down the Ohio to Fort Massac. 
Here the army halted, and built upon the ruins of an old 
trading post or fortlet called Assumption, what came to be 
known as Fort Massac. 



80 A Student's History of Illinois. 

Not only did Fort Chartres furnish large numbers of sol- 
diers in the defense of Fort Duquesne and the Ohio valley, 
but the inhabitants of the American Bottom furnished large 
quantities of provisions. Captain Neyon de Yilliers was en- 
gaged in transporting these supplies from Fort Chartres to 
the fort at the forks of the Ohio. 

100. The Treaty of Peace. — But the end came. The 
King having lost Quebec signed a treaty by which the French 
Province of New France, and all of Louisiana east of the Mis- 
sissippi river excepting the Isle of Orleans was ceded to Eng- 
land, while all of Louisiana west of the Mississippi including 
New Orleans was ceded to Spain. This was the treaty of Paris 
of 1763. 

101. The Surrender. — The British were slow about tak- 
ing possession of their newly acquired territory. And this 
can be explained by the fact that the Indians were not satisfied 
to see the British take the posts so long held by their friends, 
the French, and so they presented all kinds of obstructions to 
the British who were sent to take the posts of Fort Chartres, 
Vincennes, and other stations. Not fewer than five English- 
men were sent to receive the surrender of Fort Chartres, not 
one of whom ever got closer to the fort than Kaskaskia. 

In the meantime the French commander Capt. Neyon de 
Villiers left the Illinois country for New Orleans. St. Ange 
de Bellerive came from Vincennes to hold the Illinois country 
till the British should come. St. Ange persuaded Pontiac to 
withdraw his opposition to the British, and Captain Stirling 
of the 42 d Highlanders received the surrender of the fort on 
October 2, 1765. 

102. St. Louis Founded.— In the winter of 1763-4, Pierre 
Laclede, a rich merchant representing a large fur trading 
company, arrived at Fort Chartres from New Orleans with 
the intention of planting a colony of traders. But on reach- 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



81 



ing the fort and finding that the Illinois country had been 
ceded to the British and supposing that France still held the 
territory west of the Mississippi, he sought a good point on 
the banks of that river for a trading station, and thus was 
Saint Louis founded, February, 1764. 




A Type of the Old Houses in Prairie du Rocher. Father C. J Eschmann, the 
Parish Priest, is seen on the porch. 



32 A Student's History of Illinois. 



CHAPTER IX. 



A BRIEF SURVEY. 



103. The Inventory. — The bill of sale of the Illinois 
country which France delivered to Great Britain was not a 
very imposing document. However the bargain was one 
which England had no desire to rue. The newly acquired 
territory was described in King George's proclamation of 
1763. It consisted of East and West Florida, New France, 
and the Indian country, which included all north of the Flori- 
das, south of the Lakes, east of the Mississippi, and west of 
the Alleghany mountains. Thus it will be seen that the first 
move of the British government was to put Illinois back into 
the territory of the savages. 

104. Pontiac's War. — One thing not included in the bill 
of sale was Pontiac's war. Pontiac was an Indian chief of 
considerable influence among the tribes in the western coun- 
try. He conceived the plan of uniting all the Indian tribes 
of the Mississippi region in a league against the British. Pon- 
tiac had fought valiantly against the British in the recent war 
and had acquired a large fund of military knowledge as well 
as the spirit of patriotism. 

He did not carry on his warfare against the whites within 
the limits of civilized war, but his Indians massacred and 
burned with a truly savage wantonness. The western fringe 
of the Atlantic settlements at this time reached into east Ten- 
nessee, into Kentucky, and into West Virginia, Western Penn- 
sylvania, and Western New York. This fringe of white set- 
tlements was driven back temporarily over the Alleghanies, 
but the strong forts did not succumb to the savage attacks. 
After the war was in progress a couple of years peace was se- 



A Student's History of Illinois. 83 

cured. Pontiac, disappointed and sullen, spent his time in 
the region of the Mississippi. In the month of April, 1769, 
he was murdered in the streets of Cahokia by an Indian who 
it was thought committed the deed for British gold. This war 
kept in check the tide of immigration into the west for sev- 
eral years. 

105. The Settlements. — Reynolds in his Pioneer His- 
tory says that the French settlements at the close of the French 
and Indian war enjoyed the greatest prosperity which they 
ever attained. Kaskaskia was now a city of 2,500 people and 
was the center of business, wealth, and culture. Indeed it was 
called the Paris of the West. Cahokia was now a town of 
several hundred people. Just south of Cahokia was the flour- 
ishing village of Prairie du Pont. All these villages or settle- 
ments had been granted commons, besides many private 
grants had been made. 

106. Farming. — The crops were raised in the common 
field. This field had a fence about it but there were no fences 
around the individual's crops within. The farming imple- 
ments were very crude. The plows were wooden with a piece 
of iron fastened to the point. The settlers plowed with oxen, 
fastening the yoke to the horns instead ( of over the neck as we 
have been accustomed to see them. The carts or wagons were 
constructed wholly of wood, while the harness was made of 
rawhide. 

107. Houses. — The houses were low, one^ story build- 
ings. They were made by setting posts up endwise and fill- 
ing in betwen with mud, stone, and grasses. The outside and 
inside were usually whitewashed. This gave the homes a neat 
appearance. The roofs were thatched with long prairie 
grasses, and are said to have lasted longer than those made of 
shingles. In later years shingles were rived from the oak 
trees. There were a few glass windows, but all were hung on 
hinges like doors. The wells used for drinking purposes were 
all neatlv walled and had a home-made windlass. 



84 A Student's History of Illinois. 

When the French and Indians first settled Cahokia and 
Kaskaskia, they did not build their houses in the village in 
any regular order, but when the settlement became permanent, 
they laid out the village in streets and blocks. The streets 
were narrow but straight. They also crossed at right angles, 
making the blocks squares 300 feet on a side. The block was 
divided into four lots, each fenced by letting small cedar posts 
or pickets into the ground two feet, the top standing about 
five feet above ground. The top ends of the pickets were 
sharpened. They stood close together and thus made a good 
fence. These picket fences were also often whitewashed and 
kept in good repair. 

The size of the lot gave room for quite a garden spot be- 
hind the house. The front part of this yard was kept well 
stocked with cultivated flowers. Fruit trees were grown in 
the yard and thrift characterized the general appearance. 

108. Customs. — In the days of French ascendancy in 
the Illinois, the styles and fashions of Paris found their way 
to Kaskaskia by way of Xew Orleans without much delay. The 
French people were naturally gay in their spirit and they en- 
joyed the fashionable things from the mother country. 

It was a common practice among the young people to mask 
themselves and go about the streets of the village after night 
on the evening of December 31, and invite the people to meet 
at some designated place and dance the old year out and the 
new year in. Refreshments were served and all took part in 
the festivities. It is said that the best of order prevailed at 
all of these social gatherings. 

Hunting was not only a sport but in some sense a busi- 
ness. The hunters had trails from Kaskaskia to all the points 
across the State. There were trails from Kaskaskia to Vin- 
cennes, to Fort Massac, to Cahokia, and possibly to the salt- 
works near Shawneetown. Buffaloes were plentiful and fur- 
nished much food, while small game was also taken in large 
quantities. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 85 

109. The Church. — In these sixty-five years of the 
church's history, there was rapid progress, not only in num- 
bers and spirit but particularly in the line of worldly gain. 
In an early day the Jesuits had a gristmill and also a sawmill 
near Cahokia. They had "a large farm with a costly mansion 
upon it, and at Kaskaskia a stone church and chapel and a 
large house of the same material, an extensive brewery, a 
farm of more than two hundred acres, and immense herds of 
cattle,. . . .and horses.' 7 

In the earliest part of the eighteenth century there was 
little use for money. All exchange was of the articles them- 
selves. Beaver skins were current wherever one person owed 
another. Later the coins of France and Spain circulated 
freely. Paper money was plentiful during the supremacy of 
the Company of the West but later the coins came into use. 

There were few skilled laborers, such as blacksmiths, car- 
penters, and masons. The most desirable mechanic was the 
gunsmith. Stone was extensively used, large quantities being 
found in the "bluffs" near. Some lime was burned and stone 
masons were often in demand. 



86 A Student's History of Illinois. 



CHAPTER X. 

THE BRITISH IN THE ILLINOIS COUNTRY. 

110. The Proclamation of 1763. — The treaty of peace by 
which the Illinois country was transferred to Great Britain 
was signed February 10, 1763. By this treaty there came into 
the possession of the British government East and West Flor- 
ida, New France, and all of Louisiana east of the Mississippi 
river excepting the Isle of Orleans. Through the summer of 
1763 the King of England and his ministry were busy prepar- 
ing for the government of the new territory. On October 7, 
1763, King George III. put forth a proclamation which had 
for its purpose a designation of provinces and the manner of 
their government. 

What is now the State of Illinois fell in the Indian coun- 
try. Tins was bounded as follows — on the south by the north 
line of East and West Florida, on the east by the Alleghanies, 
on the north by the Great Lakes, on the west by the Missis- 
sippi river. This "Proclamation of 1763" forbade the King's 
governors and commander-in-chief to "grant warrants of sur- 
vey, or pass patents, for any lands beyond the heads or sources 
of the rivers which fall into the Atlantic Ocean from the west 
or northwest, or upon any lands whatever, which, having not 
been ceded to or purchased by us, are reserved to the Indians." 
And it further forbids "on pain of our displeasure, all our 
loving subjects from making any purchases or settlements 
whatever, or taking possession of Indian lands without our 
special leave or license, for that purpose first obtained." The 
proclamation further provides that no one shall buy lands 
from the Indians, but that lands may be bought in the King's 
name. It is now believed that the provision was to conciliate 



A Student's History of Illinois. 87 

the Indians who were greatly grieved to exchange the French 
for the English regime. 

111. Indian Grants. — Notwithstanding this very plain 
prohibition in the ''Proclamation," the Kaskaskia and Ca- 
hokia Indian chiefs, on the 5th of July, 1773, granted to 
William Murray and others two separate tracts of land. One 
was bounded by a line running east from Kaskaskia to the 
Ohio, thence down the Ohio and up the Mississippi to Kas- 
kaskia. The other tract included nearly all of the remainder 
of Illinois east of the Illinois river. While these grants were 
in direct violation of the proclamation, yet three of England's 
noted lawyers — Pratt, Yorke, and Dunning — gave opinions 
affirm inr the validity of the deeds. 

A PROCLAMATION. 

Whereas, By the peace concluded at Paris. February 10, 1763, 
the country of the Illinois has been ceded to his Britannic majesty, and 
the taking possession of the said country of the Illinois, by the troops 
of his majesty, though delayed, has been determined upon : we have 
found it good to make known to the inhabitants .... 

(Abridged.) 

1. The inhabitants of Illinois are given the liberty of the Cath- 
olic religon, as has been done to the inhabitants of Canada. 

2. The former subjects of the French King are given the privi- 
lege of selling their lands (to British subjects only), and their per- 
sonal effects, and of departing to any part of the Louisiana territory. 

3. Those who choose to remain will enjoy the same rights, privi- 
leges, and security that they had as French subjects. 

4. All who choose to remain must take the oath of allegiance to 
the British government. Thomas Gage. 

New York, December 30, 1764. 

112. The British Flag.— Upon the arrival of Captain Stir- 
ling the Lilies of France were taken down and the English 
banner was run np on Fort Chartres. The sight of the British 
ensign was a new one for the inhabitants of the Illinois coun- 
try. They had, according to the treaty, eighteen months to 
decide what they will do — stay or go. Many of them took 



88 A Student's History of Illinois. 

their departure, taking their personal property including their 
slaves. Nearly the entire village of New Chartres, number- 
ing forty families, left in a body. Only one man was left at 
St. Phillipe. Thus one-third of the French inhabitants left 
the Illinois country. They went to St. Louis, to Cape Girar- 
deau, to St. Genevieve, or to New Orleans. 

The mixed character of the people is shown by a marriage 
at Prairie du Rocher in which a French soldier from the 
Spanish city of St. Louis married an Englishwoman, the cere- 
mony being performed by a French priest in a British prov- 
ince. 

113. The English Commandants. — The officer in command 
of the post at Fort Chartres was known as the commandant 
of the Illinois territory. The following is a list of those 
British officers who served in that capacity : 

Captain Thomas Stirling 1765 

Major Robert Farmer 1765-1766 

Colonel Edward Cole 1766-1768 

Colonel John Reed 1768-1768 

Lieut. Col. John Wilkins 1768-1771 

Captain Hugh Lord 1771-1775 

Captain Matthew Johnson . . 1775-1776 

Chevalier de Rocheblave 1776-1778 

There is some confusion in commandants and dates to- 
ward the latter part of the British rule in the Illinois country. 

114. Civil Government. — The abo^e named officers were 
primarily military commandants, but they exercised all the 
governmental authority that was in force in the territory — 
or at least the earlier commandants did so. The inhabitants 
were very loud in their condemnation of the oppressions of 
the military commandants, and they frequently made com- 
plaints to those in authority but with no relief. These com- 
plaints must have eventually borne fruit, for upon the coming 
of Colonel Wilkins as commandant in 1768, he brought an 
order from his superior for the establishment of a civil court. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 89 

Colonel Wilkins therefore issued his proclamation creat- 
ing a civil administration of the laws of the country. He 
appointed seven judges who should hold court for the adjust- 
ment of civil cases. These judges held the first court at Fort 
Chartres, December the 8th, 1768. The law in force was the 
common law of England. Trial by jury was one feature of 
the administration of justice. The French inhabitants had 
never been accustomed to this system and they complained 
long and loud about the jury system. It was difficult for the 
Frenchman to understand how there could be any justice 
meted out to those who sought relief in the courts, by a jury 
of twelve men many of whom could not read and write and 
of course had no technical knowledge of the English law. But 
the government was obstinate and gave the inhabitants no 
relief. The French inhabitants of the Illinois country there- 
fore kept their contentions out of the courts and there was 
little for the courts to do. This system continued till the Eev- 
olutionary war. 

115. The Quebec Act. — The civil administration of justice 
in the Illinois country remained in force till by act of the Brit- 
ish government the whole of the Illinois country was thrown 
into the Province of Quebec. This was done by the passage 
of the Quebec Act in 1774. It has been affirmed that this act 
was intended to conciliate the French Canadians whose help 
the King saw he must have in the approaching struggle. The 
constant appeals of the French inhabitants of Illinois for re- 
lief from the unbearable civil system may have been another 
reason, and a third may have been to dissuade the English 
colonists on the Atlantic coast from opening up the interior 
to settlement, for by the terms of the Quebec Act the Catholic 
religion was virtually established in the Illinois country. 

The passage of this Quebec Act was regarded by the Eng- 
lish colonists in America as one of the acts of Great Britain 
which justified the thirteen colonists in revolting. In the 
Declaration of Independence we find the complaint — 



90 A Student's History of Illinois. 

For abolishing the free system of English laws in a neighboring 
province (the Illinois country), establishing therein an arbitrary gov- 
ernment, and enlarging its boundaries, so as to render it at once an 
example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule 
into these colonies. 

116. Land Grants. — In the Proclamation of 1763, King 
George III. expressly stated that no transfers of land should 
be made by any one within the limits of the Indian country, 
and settlements in this country if not directly prohibited were 
discouraged. However while Colonel Wilkins was command- 
ant he made extensive grants of land to his friends, he him- 
self being interested in the grants. These grants were after- 
ward confirmed by the United States government. 

It was difficult to understand why the King should forbid 
his subjects to settle west of the Alleghanies. One explana- 
tion was that above referred to — an attempt to pacify the In- 
dians. This proclamation was by and with the consent of the 
King's ministers. The English along the Atlantic coast were 
very earnest in their requests, as individuals and companies, 
to have the privilege of settling in this "Indian Country." To 
all these overtures, the British ministry turned a deaf ear. In 
later years two definite and plausible reasons were assigned for 
the action of the King and his ministers. One by General 
Gage is as follows: "As to increasing the settlement (North- 
west of the Ohio ) to respectable provinces .... I conceive it 
altogether inconsistent with sound policy. In the course of a 
few years necessity would force them to provide manufactures 
of some kind for themselves, and when all connection upheld 
by commerce with the northern country shall cease, it may be 
expected that an independency in her government will soon 
follow." The Governor of Georgia wrote the Lords of Trade 
to the same effect. 

He said : "If a vast territory be granted to any set of 
gentlemen who really mean to people it, and actually do so, it 
must draw and carry out a great number of people from Great 



A Student's History of Illinois. 91 

Britain, and I apprehend they will soon become a kind of sep- 
arate and independent people, who will set up for themselves, 
and they will soon have manufactures of their own, and in 
process of time they will soon become formidable enough to 
oppose his majesty's authority." 

117. Departure of the British. — In 1772 the Mississippi 
flooded the bottom lands and did much damage. Among other 
things the current of the main channel came so near Fort 
Chartres that one end of the structure was undermined. The 
commandant shortly after moved his garrison to Kaskaskia 
and left the fortress to the bats and owls, the snakes and 
creeping vines. It was never afterwards used for military 
purposes. 

Whether Captain Lord moved his command into the fort 
afterwards called Fort Gage is uncertain. Captain Pittman 
was in Kaskaskia in 1768 and he says the fort was burned two 
years previously, October, 1766. It was built of thick squared 
timbers and was dove-tailed together at the corners. Tradi- 
tion says the French inhabitants set fire to the fort because 
they were incensed at the surrender of the Illinois country to 
the British. It was probably never rebuilt after its destruc- 
tion in 1766. The outlines of the embankments are still from 
three to five feet high. Large trees grow inside and even up 
through the very center of the embankments. 

Captain Lord who was in command when the Eevolution- 
ary war began was ordered in 1775 or 1776 to proceed with all 
his troops to Detroit. He seems to have turned the control of 
the British interest in the Illinois country over to one Philip 
Francois de Pastel, Chevalier de Eocheblave. This gentle- 
man was, as his name indicates, a Frenchman. He had been 
a prominent character in the Illinois country, when, on the 
coming of the British in 1765, he took the oath of allegiance 
and was now a full fledged British subject. In the list of com- 



92 A Student's History of Illinois. 

mandants given above, Capt. Matthew Johnson is given credit 
for relieving Captain Lord. This may be explained by saying 
that while Johnson was in nominal command, and may have 
never been about Kaskaskia, Kocheblave was practically in 
command. Now that there were no British troops left, the 
defense of the country must depend upon the militia. There 
were fairly well organized militia companies in all the villages. 
This was the state of affairs in 1778 when George Sogers 
Clark made his appearance in the French village. 




Interior of State House, Springfield. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 93 



CHAPTER XL 



GEORGE ROGERS CLARK CAPTURES KASKASKIA. 

118. Early Kentucky Settlers.— In spite of the proclama- 
tion of 1763, and notwithstanding the influences brought to 
bear upon the restless people of the Atlantic coast by the 
King's governors and other officers, bold pioneers pushed their 
way into the country to the west of the Alleghanies. These 
hardy settlers came from Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia and 
some from the middle states. 




Gen. George Rogers Clark. 



Daniel Boone and others explored the central portion of 
Kentucky as early as 1769, though it is stated the first home 
built was a log cabin in the town of Harrodsburg; i n 1774. It 



94 A Student's History of Illinois. 

is also affirmed that the first fort was built by Daniel Boone 
at Boonesboro in 1775. Evidently there were more settlers in 
the country than these two statements would indicate. George 
Rogers Clark came to Kentucky in the early part of 1775. 
There was a land company in Kentucky whose title to their 
lands Clark was desirous of obtaining, so he went back to 
Virginia in the fall of 1775. In the spring of 1776, he re- 
turned to Kentucky and called a meeting of all the settlers at 
Harrodstown for June 6, 1776, for the purpose of taking ac- 
tion relative to the relation which the Kentucky settlers should 
bear to the State of Virginia. At this meeting George Eogers 
Clark and Gabriel Jones were elected delegates to the Virginia 
legislature. They started immediately for Williamsburg, but 
the session had closed before they reached the capital. Clark 
proceeded alone, and found Governor Patrick Henry sick at 
his home. 

119. Help from Virginia. — Clark laid before Governor 
Henry the necessity of making some provision for the defense 
of the Kentucky people against the Indians. The matter was 
placed before the Governor's council and it was decided to 
'Tend" Clark 500 pounds of powder. The request for the 
powder was finally granted. Clark remained in Williamsburg 
for the fall sitting of the legislature and succeeded in getting 
Kentucky county organized. He then returned to Kentucky, 
in 1777, and was now convinced that the attitude of the In- 
dians toward the western settlers was largely the result of the 
influence of the British at Detroit, Vincennes, and Kaskaskia ; 
so he conceived the bold undertaking of capturing these posts 
and thus relieve the western country of this menace. Pre- 
paratory to a final movement he sent two spies, Benjamin 
Linn and Samuel Moore, to Kaskaskia to determine the con- 
dition of the defenses, the attitude of the people toward the 
Americans, and the part the Indians were taking in the con- 
flict. The spies returned with an abundance of information. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 95 

120. Clark's Plans.— October 1, 1777, Clark started for 
Williamsburg where he laid his plans before the Governor and 
a few confidential friends, among whom were George Mason, 
and Thomas Jefferson. All were enthusiastic for carding 
out the plans. The necessary legislation was pushed through 
under the guise that the troops and munitions were for the 
defense of the county of Kentucky. Two sets of instructions 
were given, one to be made public by Clark and one for his 
guidance in the real campaign which he had in mind. The 
two sets of instructions follow : 

PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. 

Lieutenant Colonel George Rogers Clark: 

You are to proceed, without loss of time, to enlist seven compa- 
nies of men, officered in the usual manner, to act as militia under 
your orders. They are to proceed to Kentucky, and there to obey 
such orders and directions as you shall give them, for three months 
after their arrival at that place; but receive pay, etc., in case they 
remain on duty a longer time. 

You are empowered to raise these men in any county in the com- 
monwealth ; and the county lieutenants, respectively, are requested 
to give you all possible assistance in that business. 

Given under my hand at Williamsburg, January 2, 1778. 

P. Henry. 

PRIVATE INSTRUCTION. 

( Abridged. ) 

VIRGINIA IN COUNCIL. 

Williamsburg. January 2, 1778. 
Lieutenant Colonel George Rogers Clark : 

You are to proceed to raise seven companies of soldiers of fifty 
men each, properly officered and armed, with which to attack the 
British post ot Kaskaskia. 

It is believed the post contains many cannon and much provision 
and ammunition. These should be preserved for the State of Virginia. 

You will proceed by way of Fort Pitt, where the commanding offi- 
cer will provide you with boats. You must take especial care to 
keep your destination a secret. 



96 A Student's History of Illinois. 

You are to show humanity to such British subjects and other 
persons as fall into your hands. Allow all the inhabitants in the 
Illinois country to take an oath of allegiance to this State, and let 
them be treated as fellow-citizens, under the guarantee of the com- 
monwealth of Virginia. If they will not yield obedience to Virginia 
then they must bs treated as enemies according to the rules of war 
from which you are not to depart. 

Your corps will receive pay and allowance under the laws of the 
State. In case the people of Kaskaskia yield obedience to this com- 
monwealth they are to be protected and their commerce fostered. A 
post is to be fortified near the mouth of the Ohio (Fort Jefferson) 
for which cannon may be taken from Kaskaskia. 

Y'ou are to apply to General Hand for powder and lead. 

Wishing you success, I am, sir, 

Your humble servant. 

P. Henry. 

121. The Start. — Clark was commissioned a Lieutenant 
Colonel, and having received 1,200 pounds in depreciated cur- 
rency, proceeded immediately to Pittsburg, from which point 
his expedition was to start. February 4, 1778. He had great 
difficulty in raising recruits in the regions of the upper Ohio. 
He was unable to reveal his real purpose, and the officials in 
the region of Pittsburg proposed to remove the Kentuckians 
over the mountains as an easier plan than to defend them in 
their scattered homes. 

While Clark was trying to recruit troops around Pittsburg, 
word came to him that Kentucky was succeeding admirably 
in raising troops for the supposed defense of their homes. 

122. Down the River.— Clark left Pittsburg with three 
companies expecting to be joined on the way down the Ohio 
by several companies from out of what is now West Virginia 
and Kentucky, and possibly some from East Tennessee. 

He arrived at Corn Island opposite Louisville, without in- 
cident. Here he halted and built a fort, and was joined by 
some of the companies from out of Kentucky. A portion of 
these deserted him when they discovered the real object of his 
expedition. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 97 

123. The Army. — On the 24th of June, 1778, he left his 
little fort on the Island and shot the rapids of the Ohio while 
the sun was in a total eclipse. Clark had now only four com- 
panies with him. They were commanded by Captains John 
Montgomery, Joseph Bowman, Leonard Helm, and Wm. Har- 
rod. The force probably did not exceed 180 men. Colonel 
Clark was disappointed in the size of his army and was forced 
to change his plans. It was his intention to attack Vincennes 
first, but on account of the fact that he had fewer than half as 
many soldiers as he expected, he concluded to attack Kas- 
kaskia. 

124. The Alliance. — Clark knew that the Indians and 
French were, in general, good friends, and that the English 
and the Indians were not on the best of terms. He was re- 
volving these facts over in his mind, and wondering what use 
he could make of these conditions, when Captain Linn who 
had been despatched from Pittsburg with news of the treaty 
of alliance between the LTnited States and France, overtook 
Clark and delivered the message. This treaty was signed in 
Paris, France, February 6, 1778, and it was now the latter 
part of June. The article which bound the United States and 
France in an alliance reads as follows: 

Article 1. If war should break out between France and Great 
Britain during the continuance of the present war between the 
United States and England, his majesty and the United States shall 
make it a common cause, and aid each other with their good offices, 
their counsels, and their forces, according to the exigencies of con- 
junctures, as becomes good and faithful allies. 

This was providential. Clark had now in his possession a 
fact which he was able to use with powerful effect upon the 
French inhabitants and through them upon the Indians as we 
shall presently see. 

125. Clark Lands Near Fort Massac. — Clark reached the 
mouth of the Tennessee before the latter part of June. Here 
he captured one John Duff and a party of hunters, who had 



98 A Student's History of Illinois. 

lately come from Kaskaskia. These hunters professed a desire 
to go with Clark on this campaign. Clark proceeded to the 
mouth of a small creek, or as he calls it a "gully" a short dis- 
tance above Fort Massac and there disembarked. He had 
understood that the British had the Mississippi from Kaskas- 
kia to the mouth of the Ohio well guarded and so he proposed 
to march over-land. They provided themselves with four 
days' rations, but it was a six days' journey, and Captain Bow- 
man says they marched two days without any sustenance, and 
Clark says that game was scarce. 

126. The Route to Kaskaskia. — There is considerable local 
interest as to the route Clark took from Fort Massac to Kas- 
kaskia. The distance on a straight line is less than 100 miles. 
But by any route which Clark could have taken the distance 
was not less than 110 or 120 miles. 

There can be little doubt that the hunters whom Clark 
captured near the mouth of the Tennessee river, knew the dif- 
ferent trails which led from Fort Massac and Golconda and 
the mouth of the Wabash, to Kaskaskia. There were two 
routes from Fort Massac to the prairies of Williamson county. 
One led from Fort Massac a little to the east of north until it 
came into the Golconda — Kaskaskia route somewhere west of 
the town of Golconda. This route after joining the Golconda 
route turned westward, passed near Allen's Springs postoffice 
and near Dixon's Springs, thence northwest near "Mill Stone 
Knob," through the Ozarks by way of Moccasin Gap, through 
the old village of Eeynoldsburg, on near the crossing of the 
Paducah branch of the Illinois Central and the Big Four at 
Parker City, near the city of Marion and on to the old vil- 
lage of Bainbridge. 

The second route went northwest from Fort Massac, keep- 
ing between the ponds and swamps which drain into Big Bay 
creek on the right and those which border the Cache river on 
the left. This route passed out of Massac county at the ex- 
treme northwestern corner, in Sec. 5, Town 14 S., R. 3 E. It 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



99 



passed near the Forman postoffice and probably led over the 
hill upon which Indian Point is situated (An old road long 
since abandoned can be seen here). From Indian Point the 



Ertr4Ttce 



t 




;\° 

ilo 


o4 
IJ 

•! 

V 




". ° 




. 1- 








i 




." ° 






'"0 
,)9 






'. '0 




(Dld^or* 7Tiai6d.<L<5n<l"V > <»rW 



Plan of Fort Massac and the Park, as laid out by the Daughters 
of the American Revolution. 

J. Walks. 2. Keeper's House. 3. Old Fort. 

L.OFC. 



100 A Student's History of Illinois. 

route ran about two miles west of Vienna, Johnson county, a 
couple of miles east of the thriving village of Buncombe, 
thence over the Ozarks through Buffalo Gap which is at least 
150 feet lower than the rest of the Ozarks, on through Gore- 
ville leaving Marion to the right and joining the Golconcla 
route at Bainbridge 3J miles west of Marion, Williamson 
county. 

127. Lost in a Prairie. — Clark's memoirs state that the 
third day from Fort Massac the guides got lost and there were 
some who thought they had turned traitor to their trust. Clark 
told the principal guide, one John Saunders, that if he did 
not find the "Hunter's RoacF' which led into Kaskaskia from 
the east that he would have him put to death. This probably 
meant that Clark knew he was far enough to strike the Gol- 
concla trail. This could not have been in Pope county for 
that junction was only fifteen miles east of north of Fort 
Massac. So the argument is quite conclusive that Clark went 
by way of Indian Point and Buffalo Gap and that he knew 
they ought to reach the Golconcla road at the end of the third 
day. The guide found the road and the army was probably 
soon encamped the third night out, near the town of Bain- 
bridge. The first night the camping ground was probably on 
Indian Point, eighteen miles from Fort Massac. The second 
night's camp was at a spring two miles north of Pulley's Mill, 
and twenty miles north of Indian Point. The third day, ow- 
ing to getting lost they did not make more than twelve miles 
of progress. 

On the fourth day the little army moved west and a little 
north and crossed Crab Orchard creek northeast of Carbon- 
dale three miles. Big Muddy was crossed at the northwest 
corner of Town 9 S,., R.l.W. — four miles due east of Mur- 
physboro. From the crossing of Big Muddy to Ava. thence to 
Campbell Hill in the northwest corner of Jackson county. 
From here by Shiloh Hill, and Wine Hill, crossing St. Mary's 
river at Bremen Station, all in Randolph. The fourth night 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



101 



out they probably camped at six or eight miles northwest of 
Murphysboro, and the fifth night at St. Mary's river. The 
next day which was the 4th of July, is their sixth day out. 
They reached the outskirts of Kaskaskia early in the evening. 




Based on map in Vol. 8 Historic Highways. 
Courtesy and permission of the Arthur H. Clark Co., Publishers, Cleveland, Ohio 



Map Showing Gen. Clark's Route from Fort Massac to Kaskaskia and 
from Kaskaskia to Vincennes. 



128. The Surprise. — As soon as night came on the army 
moved west and reached the Kaskaskia river about a mile 
above the town. On the east side of the river they found a 
farm house in which was a large family, who were made pris- 
oners. From this family it was learned that the militia had 
been called out the day before but rinding no cause for alarm, 
they had dispersed. Boats were secured and the army rowed 



102 A Student's History of Illinois. 

to the west side of the Kaskaskia. Clark says this took two 
hours. 

It was now probably as late as ten or eleven o'clock in the 
night. Clark now divided his army into two divisions, one 
of which was to scatter through the town and keep the people 
in their houses, and the other, which Clark himself com- 
manded, was to capture the fort in which the commander 
Chevalier de Kocheblave was asleep. In a very short time the 
task was finished and the people disarmed. The soldiers were 
instructed to pass up and down the streets, and those who 
could speak French were to inform the inhabitants to remain 
within their houses. The A^irginians and Kentuckians were 
in the meantime keeping up an unearthly yelling, for the peo- 
ple of Kaskaskia had understood that Virginians were more 
savage than the Indians had ever been, and Clark was de- 
sirous that they should retain this impression. The French 
of Kaskaskia called the Virginians "Long Knives." 

129. Confusion. — On the morning of the 5th, the princi- 
pal citizens were put in irons. Shortly after this Father Gi- 
bault and a few aged men came to Clark and begged the privi- 
lege of holding services in the church, that they might bid 
one another good bye before they were separated. Clark gave 
his permission in a very crabbed way. The church bell rang 
out over the quiet but sad village and immediately every one 
who could get to the church did so. At the close of the service 
Father Gibault came again with some old men to beg that 
families might not be separated and that they might be privi- 
leged to take some of their personal effects with them for their 
support. Clark then explained to the priest that Americans 
did not make war on women and children, but that it was 
only to protect their own wives and children that they had 
come to this stronghold of British and Indian barbarity. He 
went further and told them that the French King and the 
Americans had just, made a treaty of alliance and that it was 
the desire of their French father that they should join their in- 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



103 



terests with the Americans. This had a wonderfully concilia- 
tory effect upon the French. And now Clark told them they 
were at perfect liberty to conduct themselves as usual. His 
influence had been so powerful that they were all induced to 
take the oath of allegiance to the State of Virginia. Their 
arms were given back to them and a volunteer company of 
French militiamen was formed. 





GEN. CHARLES E. HOVEY. 

First President of the Illinois State 

Normal University, 



DR. ROBERT ALLYN. 

First President of the Southern Illinois 
Normal University. 



104 A Student's History of Illinois. 



CHAPTEE XII. 

THE BRITISH FLAG LOWERED AT CAHOKIA 

AND VINCENNES. 

130. Capture of Cahokia. — Kaskaskia was captured on 
July 4, 1778. On the morning of the 5th, occurred the inci- 
dent previously referred to relative to the conduct of the 
priest, etc. Evidently very early in the clay quiet was restored 
and better relations were established between captors and cap- 
tives. The treaty of alliance between France and the United 
States was explained, and immediately the oath of allegiance 
to Virginia was taken by the people. On the same 5th of 
July, an expedition was planned for the capture of Cahokia. 
Captain Bowman with his company, or probably a portion of 
it, and a detachment of the French militia under French offi- 
cers together with a number of Kaskaskia citizens made up the 
army. Eeynolds says they rode French ponies. The distance 
was sixty miles and the trip was made by the afternoon of the 
6th. At first the people of Cahokia were greatly agitated and 
cried "Long Knives \" "Long Knives !" But the Kaskaskia 
citizens soon quieted them and explained what had happened 
at Kaskaskia only two days before. The fort at Cahokia may 
have contained a few British soldiers or some French militia. 
In either case they quietly surrendered. The oath of alle- 
giance was administered to the people and the citizens re- 
turned to Kaskaskia. 

131. Father Gibault.— For the first few days of Clark's 
stay in Kaskaskia he and his men talked about the fort at the 
Falls of the Ohio and of a detachment of soldiers they were 
expecting from there every day. This was done for the pur- 
pose of making an impression upon the people of Kaskaskia. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 105 

Clark was a shrewd diplomatist as well as a good soldier, and 
he suspected that Father Gibault was at heart on the side of 
the Americans. By conversation Clark learned that the priest 
was the regular shepherd of the flock at Vincennes, and evi- 
dently had very great influence with the people there. Clark 
therefore talked of his expedition against Vincennes from the 
fort at the Falls of the Ohio. Father Gibault then told Clark 
that while the post at Vincennes was a very strong one and 
that there were usually many Indians about that place, that 
just at this time, the Lieutenant Governor or commandant, 
Edward Abbot, was not at Vincennes but was in Detroit. He 
also told Clark that there were no soldiers there except prob- 
ably a few citizen-officers and that he had no doubt if the 
people there knew the real nature of the conflict between 
England and the colonies, and that France had joined against 
the hated British, there would be no opposition to Clark and 
his purposes. The priest further suggested that he himself 
would head an embassy to Post Vincennes for the purpose of 
attempting to secure the allegiance of the people there to the 
American cause. 

This was the most cheering word that had come to Clark 
in all his first days at Kaskaskia. An expedition was imme- 
diately planned. The priest should be accompanied by a citi- 
zen of Kaskaskia, Doctor John Baptiste Lafont. The two 
gentlemen were accompanied by several attendants, among 
whom was a spy who had secret instructions from Clark. 

They departed the 14th of July, and reached Vincennes 
safely. The priest had no difficulty in making it clear to the 
people that France was on the side of the Americans. The 
commander, Governor Abbot, had recently gone to Detroit 
and there was no one in military command. They all took 
the oath of allegiance to Virginia. They also organized a 
militia company and took possession of the fort over which 
the flag of Virginia floated much to the wonder of the In- 
dians. The Indians were told that the old French King, their 



106 A Student's History of Illinois. 

Father, had come to life, and if they did not want the land to 
be bloody with war they must make peace with the Americans. 

On August 1, Father Gibault and his companions returned 
to Kaskaskia and reported the success of their mission. 

132. Reorganization of the Army. — Clark was busy just 
then reorganizing his little army. The term of enlistment of 
the soldiers was drawing to a close, and he saw that unless he 
could re-enlist his men, all the good that had been accom- 
plished would go for naught. Clark succeeded in re-enlisting 
about a hundred of his little army while the rest were to be 
mustered out at the Falls of the Ohio, their places being filled 
with enlistments from the French militia. Captain Bowman 
was made military commandant at Cahokia, Captain Williams 
had charge at Kaskaskia, Captain Helm was sent to Vincennes 
to take charge, and Captain Linn was sent with the soldiers 
who did not re-enlist to the Falls of the Ohio, while Captain 
Montgomery was sent with Chevalier de Eocheblave and dis- 
patches, to Williamsburg. It had been Colonel Clark's inten- 
tion to treat with great consideration his distinguished cap- 
tive, but M. Eocheblave behaved so rudely that he was sent a 
prisoner to Virginia, his slaves were confiscated and sold for 
500 pounds sterling and the money distributed among the 
soldiers. 

Colonel Clark had by early fall restored order and obedi- 
ence in all the Illinois country. He soon found the need of 
civil courts. The courts established by Wilkins under the 
British occupation had gone into "innocuous desuetude." 
Eocheblave had given little if any attention to civil adminis- 
tration. Colonel Clark made inquiry as to the customs and 
usages of the people and decided to organize courts for the 
adjustment of claims and disputes. Accordingly Captain 
Bowman held an election in Cahokia at which the citizens 
voted and elected judges one of which was Captain Bowman. 
Later, judges were elected at Kaskaskia and at Vincennes. 
Colonel Clark himself constituted the appellate court, and 



A Student's History of Illinois. 107 

from a letter afterward written to Jefferson he must have been 
quite busy in this line of work for he says, referring to this 
matter of being relieved from civil duties, "the civil depart- 
ment of the Illinois had heretofore robbed me of too much of 
my time that ought to be spent in military reflection. I was 
now likely to be relieved by Col. John Todd. I was anxious 
for his arrival and happy in his appointment, as the greatest 
intimacy and friendship had subsisted between us. I now saw 
myself rid of a piece of trouble that I had no delight in/' 

This extract is from a letter written by Clark to Jefferson 
when he heard that Col. John Todd had been selected to ad- 
minister civil government in the Illinois country. 

133. County of Illinois. — The people of Virginia were 
soon aware of the success of the Clark expedition. The com- 
mon people were of course greatly surprised, and the officials 
who had stood back of the enterprise were greatly relieved and 
delighted. The legislature in session in October took steps to 
extend civil government over the newly conquered country. 

In October, 1778, the legislature of Virginia took the fol- 
lowing action creating the county of Illinois: 

All the citizens of the commonwealth of Virginia who are already 
settled or shall hereafter settle on the western side of the Ohio shall 
be included in a distinct county which shall be called Illinois county; 
and the governor of this commonwealth with the advice of the coun- 
cil may appoint a county lieutenant or commander-in-chief, during 
pleasure, who shall appoint and commission as many deputy com- 
mandants, militia officers, and commissaries, as he shall think proper 
iu the different districts, during pleasure; all of whom, before they, 
enter into office shall take the oath of fidelity to this commonwealth 
and the oath of office, according to the form of their own religion. 

And all civil officers to which the inhabitants have been accus- 
tomed necessary for the preservation of the peace, and the adminis- 
tration of justice, shall be chosen by a majority of the citizens in 
their respective districts to be convened for that purpose by the 
county lieutenant or commandant, or his deputy, and shall be com- 
missioned by the said county lieutenant or commander-in-chief. 



108 A Student's History of Illinois. 

134. Vote of Thanks. — The ""house of delegates" which 
was the lower branch of the legislature shortly after the cre- 
ation of the county of Illinois took the following action : 

IN THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES. 

Monday, the 23d Nov., 1778. 

Whereas, authentic information has been received that Lieuten- 
ant Colonel George Rogers Clark, with a body of Virginia militia, 
has reduced the British posts in the western part of this common- 
wealth on the river Mississippi and its branches, whereby great ad- 
vantage may accrue to the common cause of America, as well as to 
this commonwealth in particular: 

Resolved, That the thanks of this house are justly due to the 
said Colonel Clark and the brave officers and men under his com- 
mand, for their extraordinary resolution and perseverance in so haz- 
ardous an enterprise, and for their important services to their 
country. E. Randolph, 

Attest: C. H. D. 

In accordance with the provisions of the law creating the 
county of Illinois west of the Ohio river, the Governor of Vir- 
ginia, Patrick Henry, appointed John Todd, Esq., a judge of 
the Kentucky court, as county lieutenant or commander-in- 
chief of the newly created county. We shall hear more of 
John Todd and his work later. 

135. Treaties. — Colonel Clark in the month of September 
was busy making treaties with the Indians. He met them in 
council at Cahokia. Treaties were made with the Pianke- 
shaws, Ouiatenons, Kickapoos, Illinois, Kaskaskias, Peorias, 
and probably others. 

Captain Helm took possession of Yincennes about the 
middle of August. By the middle of November or earlier, 
word had reached Detroit that Captain Helm was in possession 
of the fort at Vincennes. An expedition was planned under 
the command of Lieutenant Governor Henry Hamilton, to 
retake the fort. He must have started from Detroit by the 
earlier part of November, for on the 4th of December, he had 
reached Fort Ouiatenon. From here he writes to General 



A Student's History of Illinois. 109 

Haldiman, the Governor of Canada. Hamilton says he has 
about 200 Indians with him and hopes no more will join him. 
He was then on his way to capture Vincennes which he says 
he has heard is quite short of provisions. He reached Vin- 
cennes December 18, 1778. 

136. Loss of Vincennes. — The capture of Vincennes by 
Hamilton is so full of the humorous side of war that it will 
bear repeating. When Captain Helm was sent by Clark to take 
command at Vincennes he relied upon the fidelity of the militia 
of the village for assistance in case of an attack. When he heard 
of the approach of Hamilton he fired the signal for the as- 
sembling of the militia, but very few came, and these deserted 
when Hamilton's army came in sight. There were left in the 
fort (Fort S,ackville) only two men, Captain Helm ?nd an 
American by the name of Henry. Helm and Henry planted a 
cannon heavily loaded in the gateway of the fort and awaited 
Hamilton's coming. Hamilton asked for a consultation which 
resulted in Helm's surrender of the fort provided his army 
should be permitted to march out with the honors of war. 
This was granted and Hamilton's army of thirty British reg- 
ulars, fifty Canadians, and 400 Indians, was drawn up in line 
to receive the surrendered army with the courtesies of mili- 
tary regulations. When everything was in readiness, Captain 
Helm and private Henry with drawn sword and flag flying 
came marching out and formally surrendered Fort Sackville, 
its brave defenders, and its munitions of war. Captain Helm 
and Henry were held prisoners of war in Fort Sackville. 

137. Services of Vigo. — Word soon reached Colonel Clark 
of the loss of Vincennes, and he now felt himself in a very 
perilous situation. Vincennes was lost, Virginia had not sent 
him a dollar with which to purchase supplies, the money lie 
had was of no value, the Indians from the Canadian border 
were making their appearance around Cahokia and Ivaskaskia, 
and discouragement stared him in the face. 



110 A Student's History of Illinois. 

In this extremity a real patriot came upon the scene. This 
man was Colonel Francis Vigo, a native of Mongovia, Sar- 
dinia. He had served in the Spanish army but was now a rich 
merchant of St. Louis. He sympathized with the American 
cause and was so deeply interested in Clark that he supplied 
his army with clothing and provision to the extent of above 
$20,000, which was never repaid during Colonel Vigo's life- 
time. 

Colonel Vigo proffered his services to Colonel Clark. Clark 
sent him over to Vincennes to see what the situation was. He 
was captured and would have been severely punished by Ham- 
ilton if it had not been for fear of the French, Indians, and 
Spanish, all of whom were great friends to Vigo. He was 
released and returned to St. Louis, and immediately came to 
Kaskaskia to inform Colonel Clark of the true situation. This 
was that Hamilton had a strong detachment of soldiers at 
Fort Sackville with cannon and plenty of munitions of war. 
Vigo also reported that the French inhabitants were quite fa- 
vorable »to the American cause and would render any assist- 
ance they could. And again Vigo reported that just as soon 
as the spring season opened that Colonel Hamilton was in- 
tending to attack Colonel Clark at Kaskaskia. 

A conference was called of all the officers then around 
Kaskaskia. Captain Bowman came from Cahokia with his 
small force of soldiers and the first impulse was to get ready 
for a siege if Colonel Hamilton should attack. This plan was 
finally abandoned, for Colonel Clark said — "If I do not take 
Hamilton he will take me." 



A Student's History of Illinois 111 



CHAPTER XIII. 

CLARK'S CAPTURE OF VINCENNES. 

138. Preparation. — Vigo reported to Colonel Clark on the 
29th of January, and with such dispatch did Clark make prep- 
aration for his expedition that he was ready to move by the 
6th of February, 1779. Everything in the village of Ivas- 
kaskia was activity. "The whole country took fire with alarm ; 
and every order was executed with cheerfulness by every de- 
scription of the inhabitants — preparing provisions, encour- 
aging volunteers, etc., and as we had plenty of stores, every 
man was completely rigged with what he could desire to with- 
stand the cold weather. To convey our artillery and stores, it 
was concluded to send a vessel round by water, so strong that 
she might force her way. A large Mississippi (keel) boat was 
immediately purchased, and completely fitted out as a galley, 
mounting two four-pounders and four large swivels. She 
was manned by forty-six men under command of Capt. John 
Rogers." The vessel was called "The Willing." This vessel 
was to sail down the Mississippi, up the Ohio, and thence up 
the Wabash as far as the mouth of the White river and there 
wait for word from the overland expedition. The vessel moved 
down the Ivaskaskia and out into the broad Mississippi on the 
4th of February, 1779, while the land forces moved the 7th. 

The little army consisted of 170 men. One company of 
French militiamen from Cahokia was in charge of Captain 
McCarty. Another French company from Ivaskaskia was 
commanded by Captain Charleville. Captains Bowman, Wil- 
liams, and Worthington commanded the Virginians. The route 
they took is said to have been the old trail from Ivaskaskia to 



112 A Student's History of Illinois. 

Vincennes. Reynolds says it was laid out by the Indians 
nearly a hundred years before Clark made use of it. 

139. The Route. — The route as laid down in volume 8 of 
"Historic Highways'' starts from Kaskaskia and goes north- 
east to Diamond Point some four or five miles from Kaskaskia. 
Here they may have halted a day or so. From Diamond Point 
the route ran northeasterly to Sparta in Randolph county. 
Thence to the southeast of Coulterville about a mile, thence 
to Nashville in Washington county in nearly a direct line. 
From here the trail ran easterly and crossed the Illinois Cen- 
tral within a mile north of Richview. The corner of Jefferson 
was crossed and Walnut Hill in the southwestern corner of 
Marion was passed. From Walnut Hill in a nearly straight 
line to Xenia, Clay county. 

From here the route follows almost exactly the Baltimore 
and Ohio Southwestern Railroad to Lawrenceville, leaving 
Olney to the north probably two miles. From Lawrenceville 
the army turned south and followed the Embarras river on 
the southwest side, crossing the Wabash about two miles south 
of St. Francisville. From here the route went east bearing 
toward the north till they reached Chimney Rock or what 
Clark called the Second Mamelle, now called Chimney Pier. 
From here nearly due north to the village of Vincennes. ( See 
map of Clark's routes.) 

140. An Unparalleled Story. — The story of the hardships, 
and the extreme suffering from cold and hunger which this 
little army endured, will ever be a tale with which to stir the 
patriotic blood of all loyal Illinoisans. Probably nothing 
more than the hardships incident to any military campaign- 
ing was experienced until they reached the Little Wabash 
February 13. Here they had to build a boat in which they 
ferried their baggage, ammunition and men. The Little 
Wabash was crossed at a point some 3J miles above the union 
of that stream and what is called Big Muddy creek. Big 
Muddy runs toward the south and nearly parallel with the 



A Student's History of Illinois. 113 

Little Wabash. The space between was three miles wide. This 
is low land and is often overflowed. At this time the two 
streams had formed one great wide flood too deep to be waded. 
A platform was built in three feet of water, and the pack- 
horses were brought to this platform where their burdens were 
transferred to the boat. A similar platform was built on the 
opposite shore three miles away where the boat unloaded its 
cargo. The shallow water from each edge of the flood to the 
platforms was nearly a mile wide which made the entire flood 
five miles. 

When they reached the opposite shore they were ordered to 
fire no more guns for fear of revealing their coming to the 
British. They were now forty miles almost due west of Vin- 
cennes. Clark writes of the crossing of the two streams as 
follows : 

This (flood) would have been enough to have stopped any set of 
men not in the same temper that we were. But in three days we 
contrived to cross by building a large canoe, ferried across the two 
channels ; the rest of the way we waded building scaffolds at each 
side to lodge our baggage on until the horses crossed to take them. 

On the 16th of February the army crossed Fox river 
which runs southward just a mile or so west of Olney. 

141. Crossing" the Wabash. — They pushed forward through 
rain and mud and reached the Embarras river in the after- 
noon of the 17th. Here they were within about eight or nine 
miles of Vineennes but all the lowland between the Embarras 
river and the Wabash was flooded and no boats could be found 
in which to cross. Here the army turned south and traveled 
along the west side of the Embarras hunting a dry spot on 
which to camp. Captain Bowman says they "traveled till 8 
o'clock in mud and water" before a camping spot could be 
found. "18th — At daybreak heard Hamilton's morning gun. 
(They were then ten miles southwest from Vineennes). Set 
off and marched down the river (Embarras), saw some fine 
land. About two o'clock came to the bank of the Wabash." 



114 A Student's History of Illinois. 

Here they spent the next three days building rafts, dig- 
ging canoes, and trying to cross the Wabash. The food was 
all gone. Major Bowman's journal says on the 19th — "Many 
of the men cast down — particularly the volunteers. No provi- 
sions now of any sort, two days, hard fortune." On the 20th, 
they captured five Frenchmen from Yincennes who said that 
Hamilton was ignorant of Clark's presence on the Wabash. 
They killed a deer on this day. On the 21st the army was 
ferried over by the aid of two canoes. They landed on the 
east side of the Wabash and rested on a little knob called "The 
Mamelle." From here they plunged into the water and made 
toward the next "Mamelle" about three miles eastward. Here 
the little army stayed over night and on the morning of the 
22nd of February, they moved northward through water to 
their waists and even to their shoulders. In addition to the 
deep water Clark says the morning of the 22nd was the cold- 
est they had had and that the ice was over the water from half 
to three-quarters of an inch. From the second "Mamelle" to 
the next dry ground was about one and a half miles. Clark 
says — "Getting about the middle of the plain, the water about 
mid-deep, I found myself sensibly failing, and as there were 
no trees nor bushes for the men to support themselves by, I 
feared that many of the most weak would be drowned. . . . 
Getting to the woods where the men expected land, the water 
was up to my shoulders, but gaining the woods was of great 
consequence; all the low men and the weakly hung to the 
trees, and floated on old logs, until they were taken oif by the 
canoes. The strong and tall got ashore and built fires. Many 
would reach the shore and fall with their bodies half in the 
water not being able to support themselves without it." Provi- 
dentially an Indian canoe with squaws and children was cap- 
tured. In this canoe was half a quarter of buffalo meat, some 
corn, tallow, kettles, etc. These were confiscated, the food 
prepared, and served to the weakest ones, though there was a 
little broth for all. This meal and the sunshiny weather 



A Student's History of Illinois. 115 

greatly strengthened the troops and they took up their march 
in the afternoon of the 22nd, for the town and fort then only 
about four miles away. They reached the town shortly after 
dark and while the main body of the troops took up their posi- 
tion in the village, a detachment of fourteen men under Lieu- 
tenant Bailey attacked the fort. 

Shortly after the army came in sight of the town, Colonel 
Clark issued a proclamation directed to the people of the vil- 
lage which was intended as a warning to those inhabitants 
who were in any way sympathetic with the British interests. 
It read as follows : 

To the Inhabitants of Post Vincennes: 

Gentlemen: — Being now within two miles of your village, with 
my army, determined to take your fort this night, and not being 
willing to surprise you, I take this method to request such of you 
as are true citizens and willing to enjoy the liberty, I bring you, to 
remain still in your houses. And those, if any there be, that are 
friends to the King will instantly repair to the fort and join the 
hair-buyer general, and fight like men. And if any such as do not 
go to the Fort shall be discovered afterwards, they may depend on 
severe punishment. On the contrary, those who are true friends to 
liberty may depend on being well treated, and I once more request 
them to keep out of the streets. For every one I find in arms on my 
arrival I shall treat him as an enemy. Signed, 

G. R. Clark. 

142. Attacking the Fort. — The inhabitants of Vincennes, 
who were at heart favorable to the Virginians, having heard 
that their ammunition — powder, bullets, and other munitions 
— was to be moved to Detroit, buried it to prevent its capture 
by the British. These munitions were now given to Clark. 
The bombardment of the fort was kept up nearly all night, 
and till 9 o'clock on the morning of the 24th. The firing 
then ceased and Colonel Clark sent a note demanding the sur- 
render of the fort. To this note Lieutenant Governor Hamil- 
ton sent a very short reply — "Governor Hamilton begs leave 
to acquaint Colonel Clark, that he and his garrison are not to 
be awed into any action unworthy British subjects/' The fir- 



116 A Student's History of Illinois. 

ing was renewed and kept up vigorously till in the afternoon 
when Governor Hamilton proposed a truce of three days. 
Clark refused, but proposed to meet Governor Hamilton at 
the church to consider any proposition he might have to make. 
Hamilton was accompanied by Lieutenant Helm who had 
been a British prisoner since he and Moses Henry surrendered 
the fort the 17th of December, 1778. Hamilton made a prop- 
osition of surrender but Clark would not accept it. A parley 
ensued in which Clark told Hamilton that if lie had to storm 
the fort he feared that his men could not be restrained from 
deeds of violence. Both commanders resumed their places 
but no firing occurred. Later in the afternoon Colonel Clark 
made out articles of capitulation which were satisfactory to 
Hamilton. And on the 25th of February the fort was turned 
over to the victorious frontiersmen. 

143. The Surrender. — There were regular British soldiers 
in the fort, and large quantities of stores said to be worth $50,- 
000. Word was received that a large quantity of supplies was 
on the way down the Wabash from Detroit destined for the 
British garrison. Clark dispatched Captain Helm to discover 
and capture this merchandise. This he did and returned in 
a few days with clothing and supplies valued at 10,000 pounds 
sterling. Clark's troops who were very greatly in need of 
clothing were now abundantly supplied. Colonel Hamilton 
and a few of the officers were sent to Williamsburg while the 
soldiers were paroled and allowed to return to Detroit . 

Colonel Clark desired very much to attack Detroit, but 
after considerable delay he decided to return to Kaskaskia. 
Before leaving Vincennes he made treaties with the neigh- 
boring Indians. He appointed Captain Helm as civil com- 
mandant. Lieutenant Brashear was made military commander 
at the fort, and was given forty soldiers for that duty. Col- 
onel Clark and the remainder of his army departed March 20, 
1779, for Kaskaskia on the galley the "Willing." accompanied 
by an armed flotilla of seven vessels. The trip down the Wa- 



A Student's History of Illinois. 117 

bash and Ohio and up the Mississippi to Kaskaskia was with- 
out incident. Clark reached Kaskaskia about the latter part 
of March. 

Clark returned to Yincennes in July of the same year ex- 
pecting to find troops from Kentucky and Virginia for the 
Detroit expedition. He was disappointed. He attempted to 
recruit soldiers for the Detroit campaign in the region of the 
Ohio but a letter from Jefferson who was now governor of 
Virginia requested him to construct a fort below the mouth 
of the Ohio. Accordingly he undertook this enterprise and 
by June, 1780, Fort Jefferson, a few miles below the mouth 
of the Ohio on the Kentucky side, was completed. It is said 
that some of the cannon were removed there from the aban- 
doned fortifications of Fort Chartres. The ruins of Fort Jef- 
ferson, just below the town of Wvcliffe, Ky., may be seen to- 
day. In the fall of 1780, Clark was at Fort Pitt trying to fit 
out his expedition for Detroit. In January, 1781, we find 
Colonel Clark acting in conjunction with Baron Steuben in 
repelling the attacks of Benedict Arnold upon Virginia. In 
December, 1781, Clark was at the Falls of the Ohio with an 
army of 750 men. Later he was engaged in an expedition 
against the Indians on the Miami river. He never led his 
expedition against Detroit. In the summer of 1783, he re- 
ceived the following communication : 

144. Dismissed. — 

In Council, July 2, 1783. 
Sir: — The conclusion of the war, and the distressed situation of 
the State, with regard to its finances, call on us to adopt the most 
prudent economy. It is for this reason alone. I have come to a de- 
termination to give over all thought, for the present, of carrying on 
an offensive war against the Indians, which, you will easily perceive, 
will render the services of a general officer in that quarter unneces- 
sary, and will, therefore consider yourself out of command. But, be- 
fore I take leave of you, I feel myself called upon, in the most forci- 
ble manner, to return you my thanks, and those of my council, for 
the very great and singular service you have rendered your country, 
in wresting so great and valuable a territory from the hands of the 



118 A Student's History of Illinois. 

British enemy ; repelling the attacks of their savage allies, and car- 
rying on a successful war in the heart of their country. This trib- 
ute of praise and thanks so justly due, I am happy to communicate 
to you, as the united voice of the Executive. 
I am, with respect, sir, 

Yours, etc., 

Benjamin Harrison. 

Now that we are about to leave our hero for the considera- 
tion of other men and other interests, it may be that some 
will be curious to know what was the end of a man to whom 
the United States ow T es so much. We quote from Brown's 
History of Illinois : 

"He was no longer the same man as the conqueror of Kas- 
kaskia, and the captor of Vincennes. His mind was wounded 
by the neglect of the government of Virginia to settle his ac- 
counts. Private suits were brought against him for public 
supplies, which ultimately swept away his fortune, and with 
this injustice the spirit of the hero fell, and the general never 
recovered the energies which stamped him as one of nature's 
noblemen." 

He spent the later years of his life near Louisville, Ken- 
tucky. He was completely broken in his bodily frame as a 
result of years of hard exposure. Rheumatism wdiich ended 
with paralysis terminated his life in 1818. He was buried at 
Locust Grove near Louisville. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 119 



CHAPTER XIV. 

ILLINOIS COUNTY, VIRGINIA— THE COMING OF 
JOHN TODD. 

145. John Todd, County Lieutenant. — By virtue of the au- 
thority of the act of the Virginia legislature of October, 1778, 
Patrick Henry, governor of Virginia, and by virtue of that 
position the first governor of Illinois, appointed Colonel John 
Todd lieutenant-commandant of the county of Illinois. Col- 
onel Todd's commission bears date of December 12, 1778. 
Colonel Todd was at the time of his appointment as lieuten- 
ant-commandant of Illinois county, a judge on the bench in 
Kentucky. 

Colonel Todd did not come to Illinois county till May, 
1779. Clark had returned from his campaign, and capture of 
Vincennes. It is stated that Colonel Todd was received with 
great joy by the citizens of Kaskaskia. He was no stranger to 
many about the village for he had come with Clark in the 
campaign of 1778, when the Illinois country was captured 
from the British. He is said to have been a soldier with 
Clark and to have been the first to enter the fort which Roche- 
blave surrendered. Be that as it may, he comes now with the 
authority of the commonwealth of Virginia. On June 15, 
1770, he issued a proclamation which provided that no more 
settlements should be made in the bottom lands, and further 
that each person to whom grants had been made must report 
his claim to the proper officer and have his land recorded. If 
his land had come to him through transfers, then all such 
transfers must be recorded and certified to. This was done to 
prevent those adventurers who would shortly come into the 
country from dispossessing the rightful owners of those lands. 



120 A Student's History of Illinois. 

146. The Country Neglected. — The country to which Col. 
John Todd came as county-lieutenant was in a very discour- 
aging condition. It had reached the maximum of prosperity 
about the time the French turned it over to the English in 
1765. Very many of the French went to New Orleans or to 
St. Louis during the British regime. The English King had 
attempted to keep out the immigrant. The cultivation of the 
soil was sadly neglected. The few French who remained were 
engaged in trading with the Indians. Many came to be ex- 
pert boatmen. Trade was brisk between the French settle- 
ments in the Illinois country and Xew Orleans. 

Previous to the coming of Clark the French gentleman, 
Chevelier de Kocheblave, who was holding the country in the 
name of the British government, had been not only neglectful 
but really very obstinate and self willed about carrying on 
civil affairs. He allowed the courts, organized by Colonel 
Wilkins, to fall into disuse. The merchants and others who 
had need for courts found little satisfaction in attempts to 
secure justice. During the time between the coming of Clark 
and of Todd, there were courts organized but the military op- 
erations were so overshadowing that probably little use was 
made of them. 

147. Todd's Instruction. — Patrick Henry, governor of Vir- 
giana made out Colonel Todd's commission and in addition 
gave him a lengthy letter of instructions. Todd was directed — 

To cultivate the affection of the French and Indians. 

To impress the people with the value of liberty. 

To guarantee an improved jurisprudence. 

To consult and advise with the most intelligent and up- 
right persons who might fall in his way. 

To hold the property of the Indians, particularly the land, 
inviolable. 

To cultivate the good will and confidence of the Spanish 
commandant and his people at St. Louis. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 121 

To see that the wife of Chevalier de Rocheblave should 
have restored to her the property of which she was bereft when 
her husband was sent a prisoner to Williamsburg. 

To subordinate the military to the civil authority. 

To encourage trade. 

And to carry out the above principles Avith "unwearied dil- 
igence. 7 ' 

This was no ordinary arrival (the arrival of Todd) at the 
goodly French village of Kaskaskia. In eighty years of its 
existence it had seen explorers and missionaries, priests and 
soldiers, famous travellers and men of high degree come and 
go, but never before one sent to administer the laws of a peo- 
ple's government for the benefit of the governed. 

148. Organization. — It appears from the records of Col- 
onel Todd that on the 14th of May, 1779, he organized the 
military department of his work, by appointing the officers of 
the militia at Kaskaskia, Prairie du Rocher, and Cahokia. 
Richard Winston, Jean B. Barbeau, and Francois Trotier were 
made commandants and captains in the three villages re- 
spectively. 

The next step was to elect judges provided for in the act 
creating the county of Illinois. Judges were elected at Ca- 
hokia, Kaskaskia, and at Vincennes, and court was held 
monthly. There seems to have been a scarcity of properly 
qualified men for the places as in many instances militia offi- 
cers were elected judges, and in one case the "Deputy-Com- 
mandant at Kaskaskia filled also the office of sheriff." 

Todd issued permits or charters of trade and encouraged 
those about him to engage in business. He also gave attention 
to the subject of land-claims. No new claims were to be recog- 
nized except such as were made according to the custom of the 
French inhabitants. 

149. Executing the Law. — Colonel Todd found enough 
work to keep him busy and it is doubtful if it was all as pleas- 
ant as he might have wished. The records which he kept, and 



122 A Student's History of Illinois. 

which are now in the keeping of the Chicago Historical So- 
ciety, show that severe penalties were inflicted in those days. 
On page 18, hearing date of June 13, is the following order : 

Illinois to-wit: to Richard Winston, Esq., Sheriff-in-Chief of the 
District of Kaskaskia. 

Negro Manuel, a Slave in your custody, is condemned by the 
court of Kaskaskia, after having made honorable Fine at the door 
of the church, to be chained to a post at the Water Side, and there 
to be burnt alive and his ashes scattered, as appears to me by Record. 

This sentence you are hereby required to put in execution on 
Tuesday next at 9 o'clock in the morning, and this shall be your 
warrant. 

Given under my hand and seal at Kaskaskia the 13th day of 
June (1779) in the third year of the commonwealth. 

Jxo. Todd. 

A similar case to the above is also recorded in the record 
book kept by Colonel Todd. It appears that witchcraft among 
the negro slaves was a common thing in the French villages, 
and the punishment was death. In Reynold's History there 
is a statement that a negro by the name of Moreau was hanged 
for witchcraft in Cahokia in 1790. But in the record book 
kept by Todd this entry occurs : 

To Capt. Nicholas Janis. 

You are hereby required to call upon a party of your militia to 
guard Moreau, a slave condemned to execution, up to the town of 
Cohos (Cahokia). Put them under an officer. They shall be entitled 
to pay rations and refreshments during the time they shall be upon 
duty to be certified hereafter by you. I am sir, 

Your humble servant, 

Jno. Todd. 
15th June, 1779. 

Colonel Todd held this position of county-lieutenant for 
about three years. During that time he established courts, 
held popular elections, and executed the law with vigor. 

150. Todd's Death. — In the spring of 1780 he was elected 
a delegate from the county of Kentucky to the Virginia legis- 
lature. He attended the sessions of the legislature and while 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



123 



at the capital married. In the fall he returned to Lexington, 
Kentucky, where he left his bride and came on to Illinois 
county. In the spring or summer of 1781, Governor Jefferson 
appointed Todd Colonel of Fayette county, Kentucky. He 
purposed settling in Biehmond, Virginia, permanently, but 
in August he was temporarily in Lexington when an attack 
was made on the town by Indians. The retreating redskins 
were pursued, and at the Battle of Blue Licks, fought August 
18, 1782, Todd was killed. 

There was a deputy county-lieutenant or deputy-com- 
mandant in each village, and when Colonel Todd was absent, 
the reins of government were in the hands of one of these 
deputies. On the occasion of his absence at the time of his 
death he had left, it seems, Timothy Demountbrun as county 
lieutenant. This man seems to have been the only one au- 
thorized to rule, till the coming of St. Clair in 1790. 





DR. SELIM H. PEABODY. 

President of the University of Illinois 

from 1 880 to 1 89 I. 



COL. FRANCIS W. PARKER. 

For a decade Principal of the Cook 
County Normal School. 



124 A Student's History of Illinois. 



CHAPTER XV. 

ORGANIZATION OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

151. Lee's Resolution. — In the famous resolution intro- 
duced into the Continental Congress by Richard Henry Lee, 
of Virginia, on June 7, 1776, there were three distinct pro- 
visions : 

1. That we are and of right ought to be free and independ- 
ent states. 

2. That we ought to form a National government. 

3. That we ought to send ministers abroad to solicit aid 
in establishing our independence. 

The resolutions were adopted. A committee known as the 
Grand Committee consisting of one representative from each 
state, was appointed to draw up the form of government. This 
committee reported what came to be known as the Articles of 
Confederation. This document provided that it should go 
into effect when it should be ratified by all of the thirteen 
colonies. By the spring of 1781, all the states had ratified ex- 
cept Maryland. This state refused to ratify the articles unless 
all the states that had claims to western lands should cede 
their lands to the United States to be disposed of for the good 
of the government as a whole. Massachusetts, Connecticut, 
New York, Virginia, the two Carolinas, and Georgia had 
claims to western lands. These states after due consideration 
of all of the interests involved in the refusal of Maryland to 
endorse the articles, agreed to cede their lands; and Mary- 
land, on the 1st of March, 1781, ratified the Articles of Con- 
federation and the government went into operation under 
the articles on the 2nd of the same month. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 125 

152. Virginia's Cession. — By reference to a former chapter 
it will be seen that Virginia, Connecticut, and Massachusetts 
all had claims to land lying within the present State of Illi- 
nois. Virginia's claim rested on her "sea to sea v grant of 
1609. But in addition she claimed the territory now included 
in Illinois, because her troops had captured this territory from 
the British, and her civil government had been extended over 
it as has been shown in the last chapter. 

Virginia passed her ordinance of cession in October, 1783, 
which authorized her representatives in congress to sign the 
deed of transfer. This deed of transfer was duly signed by 
Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Hardy, Arthur Lee, and James 
Monroe, December 20, 1783. From this time forward Vir- 
ginia had no more interest in the Illinois country than had 
any other state, except that there were reserved certain lands 
which she wished to use in payment of her soldiers. 

153. Ordinance of 1784. — In 1784, congress passed an or- 
dinance which was to serve as a basis of civil government in 
the territory north of the Ohio river, until such time as there 
should be sufficient population to justify the admission of the 
territory into the union as states. In 1785, a system of sur- 
veys was adopted by congress which probably was the begin- 
ning of what afterward was called the rectangular system of 
surveys. The public land was to be laid off in squares six 
miles each way, and each six miles square was then to be sub- 
divided into squares of one mile on a side. The law of 1784, 
provided for an officer corresponding to our Surveyor General. 
Thomas Hutchins. formerly an engineer in the British army 
was appointed to this office, and his work was very valuable in 
the early settlement of the west. The Ordinance of 1784, was 
intended to provide a means by which the inhabitants could 
organize a temporary government. It assumed that the coun- 
try could be or was settled. And until such time as the inhabi- 
tants should call on congress to provide a temporary govern- 
ment for them there was really no government for the people. 



126 A Student's History of Illinois. 

No one came into the new territory and no land was sold as a 
result of the land surveys. Probably there would have been 
very little interest in making settlements in the territory for 
some time if it had not been for an organization gotten up in 
Massachusetts which had for its purpose the exchange of de- 
preciated certificates of indebtedness, held by Revolutionary 
officers against the general government, for western lands. As 
early as 1783 petitions had been sent to congress asking for 
the setting aside of land immediately west of Pennsylvania for 
the use of Revolutionary soldiers and others. Out of this 
movement there was organized in Boston, March 3, 1786, 
the Ohio Company of Associates. This organization purposed 
"The conversion of those old final certificates into future 
homes, westward of the Ohio .... and the formation of a new 
state." 

154. Ordinance of 1787. — This new land company sent 
General S. H. Parsons to congress which was then sitting in 
New York to lay a proposition before that body. It was re- 
ferred to a committee for consideration. Doctor Manasseh 
Cutler, of Massachusetts, appeared upon the scene just as the 
new ordinance was being considered. Doctor Cutler was bus- 
ily engaged in consultation with committees and with mem- 
bers and as an outcome of it all, congress passed the Ordinance 
of 1787. Very briefly this ordinance provided: 

1. The territory northwest of the Ohio was made one district for 
temporary government. 

2. That property of resident or non-resident persons, dying intes- 
tate, should descend to legal heirs in equal parts. 

3. Congress should appoint a governor, secretary, and three 
judges to administer civil law. 

4. The governor and judges should adopt and publish such laws 
from the original states as were found suited to conditions in the 
new territory. 

5. The governor was to be the commander-in-chief of the military 
establishment. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 127 

6. The governor should appoint all needed civil officers until such 
time as a legislature was organized, after which, the creation of local 
offices was left with that hody. 

7. All laws, rules, orders, or regulations were to be enforced in 
all parts of the territory. 

3. When the population reached 5,000 free male inhabitants of 
full age, a representative assembly should be granted. 

9. The general assembly or territorial legislature should consist 
of the (1) governor, (2) the council, (3) the house of representa- 
tives consisting of one representative to every 500 free male inhabi- 
tants. 

10. The legislature should send one delegate to congress who 
should have the right of debate but not of voting. 

11. There shall be freedom of religious belief and practice. 

12. The inhabitants shall have (1) the privilege of the writ of 
habeas corpus; (2) the right of trial by jury; (3) processes of the 
common law; (4) right of bail; (5) exemption from excessive 
fines and punishments. 

13. The utmost good faith toward the Indians must be preserved. 

14. The legislature of the states when formed, shall not inter- 
fere with the congress in the disposition of the public lands. 

15. States may be admitted into the union when the population 
will justify it. 

16. Slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment 
for crimes whereof the person shall have been convicted, shall not 
exist within the said territory northwest of the Ohio river. 

As soon as this ordinance was passed there sprang up quite 
an active interest in the matter of making settlements in this 
northwest territory. Congress sold large tracts of land. This 
Ohio Land Company bought about 2,000,000 acres on the 
Muskingum river, but paid for only about half that amount. 
Other large sales were made, and immigration set in. The 
Eev. Manasseh Cutler's company of forty-eight persons from 
Massachusetts reached the Muskingum April 7, 1788, where 
they founded Marietta, Ohio. 

155. Organizing the Government. — Following the passage 
of the Ordinance of 1787, July 13, congress appointed the offi- 
cials as follows: Governor, General Arthur St. Clair; secre- 



128 A Student's History of Illinois. 

tary, Winthrop Sargent; judges, Samuel Holden Parsons, 
James M. Varnum, and John Cleves Symmes. The governor 
arrived at Marietta, July 9, 1787, but Judge Varnum preceded 
him, for he made a 4th of July speech at Marietta, five days 
before the coming of the governor. 

On the 15th of July Governor St. Clair created Washington 
county, Northwest Territory. In September the Governor 
and judges adopted a code of laws for the territory. In Jan- 
uary these officials came to Losantiville, opposite the mouth of 
Licking river, which they changed to Cincinnati. Here they 
created the county of Hamilton. This point was made the 
seat of government. 

The governor and secretary proceeded westward and 
reached Kaskaskia on the 5th of March, 1790. Here they 
created the county of St. Clair. Later, on his journey back 
toward the seat of government, the county of Knox was or- 
ganized. There were thus four counties and four county seats 
— Washington county, Marietta the county seat; Hamilton 
county, Cincinnati the county seat ; St. Clair county, Cahokia 
the county seat ; Knox county, A^incennes the county seat. 

156. Conditions in Illinois. — Let us now recall the condi- 
tion in which we left the Illinois country. Colonel Todd 
whose coming promised so much, in 1779, seems to have served 
the people of Illinois but a short time. He was nominally the 
civil commandant up to the day of his death, August 18, 1782. 
But from the day he left in the summer of 1780, the good or- 
der and quiet on-going began to decline. John Gabriel Cerre. 
a very prominent citizen of St. Louis and formerly a mer- 
chant in Kaskaskia, was before a committee in congress in 
July, 1786, and upon being interrogated replied as follows: 

Question — Were the people of the Illinois heretofore governed by 
the laws of Canada or by usages and customs of their own, or partly 
by one and partly by the other? 

Answer — The people of Illinois were governed before the conquest 
of Canada by the same laws as the people of Canada, which were of 



A Student's History of Illinois. 129 

the same nature as those of old France adapted to the particular 
circumstances of the country. They had local customs which were 
equally binding as the laws and after the conquest the British com- 
mandants were civil judges who governed by the same laws and 
customs as the people lived under before the conquest of Canada ; all 
public transactions being recorded in French for the information of 
the country. Criminal cases were referred to England. 

Question — By what law or usages and by what judges is criminal 
and civil justice dispensed at this time? 

Answer — In 177!), when Colonel Todd went into that country, 
the people chose six magistrates to govern them according to the 
French laws and customs, which magistrates were empowered by 
Colonel Todd to judge in criminal cases. After the troops were 
withdrawn the power of the magistrates was annihilated and every- 
thing fell into anarchy and confusion — the state of affairs at this 
time (178G.) 

Question — What is the computed number of inhabitants in the 
whole Illinois District, and what proportion of them are slaves? 

Answer — There may be in the towns on the Mississippi about 300 
white inhabitants, including American settlers who may number 
about 50. There are moreover about 250 slaves. 

Between the leaving of Todd in 1782 and the coming of 
St. Clair, 1790, there were several years of disorder and con- 
fusion. There was the constant decrease of the population; 
there were no courts; there was no money in circulation. 
There were only sixty-five Americans who could bear arms in 
1791, and only 300 militia of all nationalities. There were 
probably not more than a thousand souls in the Illinois coun- 
try at this time. A few people were coming into this region. 
Two families, Mc Elmurry and Flannery, settled in Alexander 
county opposite Goose Island as early as 1783. Other settle- 
ments were made and a few block houses were built. Rey- 
nolds mentions quite a number of American pioneers who 
came into Illinois prior to 1790. James Moore settled near 
the present town of Waterloo at a place called Slab Spring. 
Shadrach Bond, Sr., uncle of Governor Bond, James Garrison, 
and Robert Kidd settled Blockhouse Fort. These men ar- 
rived about 1781, and all came to be highly respected, useful 



130 A Student's History of Illinois. 

citizens. One of the most noted immigrants of these earl}' 
times was General John Edgar. He had been in the service 
of Great Britain but gave it up for the American cause. He 
came to Kaskaskia in IT 84. His name is intimately associated 
with the early history of the country. He was quite wealthy 
and was very generous. He died in 1832. 

157. St. Clair County. — When Governor St. Clair and 
Winthrop Sargent reached Kaskaskia, they must have been 
greatly disappointed in the condition and character of the peo- 
ple, for Governor St. Clair writing from Cahokia to the sec- 
retary of war says — ''They are the most ignorant people in the 
world ; there is not a 50th man that can either read or write." 
They were all so poor. They had contributed to Clark's needs 
more liberally than they were able, and the certificates which 
Clark issued in payment for supplies were still held by these 
poor settlers. In addition to all this there had been three re- 
cent inundations of the Mississippi bottoms. Not only had 
crops been washed away but the planting had been prevented 
and much distress had resulted. 

As has been stated, St. Clair and his secretary reached 
Kaskaskia in March, 1790. On April 27, Governor St. Clair 
established the county of St. Clair. It included all the terri- 
tory north and east of the Ohio and the Mississippi and Illi- 
nois rivers, and west of the line running from Fort Massac 
through the mouth of the Mackinaw creek a short distance 
below the city of Peoria. 

The county was divided into three districts with the three 
towns of Kaskaskia, Prairie du Eocher, and Cahokia as cen- 
ters of administration. The governor created a number of 
offices and filled them before leaving the territory. The most 
important were: 

Sheriff — William Biggs. 

Judges of the Court — Jean Barbeau, John Edgar, Antoine 
Gerardin, Philip Engle, John de Moulin. 

Probate Judge — Bartholomew Tardiveau. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



131 




MAP OF 

ILLINOIS 

SHOWING 

COUNTY BOUNDARIES 

1790 

(N.W. TERRITORY.) 



Map of St. Clair County as laid off by Gov. St. Clair, April 27, J790. 



132 A Student's History of Illinois. 

Among the other officers were justices of the peace, coro- 
ner, notary, clerk and recorder, surveyor, lieutenant colonel, 
major, captains, etc. The laws which the governor and the 
three judges had adopted, together with those which they 
should adopt, were the laws to be administered. It is prob- 
able that little official work was done by the officers whom St. 
Clair left in St. Clair county. The courts seldom convened, 
and the militia men are said to have refused to serve. There 
was not much difference between the condition of things be- 
fore and after St. Clair's coming. 

In 1795, Judge Turner, one of the three federal judges, 
came to hold court and out of a contention between him and 
St. Clair the county of St. Clair was divided into two counties 
by a line runnig due east and west through New Design. The 
north half was called St. Clair county with Cahokia for the 
county seat, while the south half was called Randolph county 
with Kaskaskia as the county seat. 

158. Indians and Spaniards. — There were two sources of 
annoyance to the people of Illinois between 1785 and 1800. 
These were the Indian troubles and the conduct of Spain in 
relation to the use of the lower Mississippi. 

The Kickapoo Indians were quite active in marauding 
campaigns into Illinois. There does not seem to have been 
any real military campaigns and the work on the part of the 
whites consisted chiefly in defending their homes against the 
Indian attacks. Block houses were built wherever there were 
settlers and in many instances stockades were provided for 
the safety of stock as well as of the people. A number of 
people were killed in the Illinois country. William Biggs, 
afterward the sheriff of St. Clair county, was captured by a 
band of Kickapoos on the 28th of March, 1788. He lived at 
Bellefontaine, and on the above date, early in the morning he 
was going to Cahokia on horseback with a load of beaver furs, 
accompanied by one John Vallis. They had not gone far till 
they were fired on. Vallis was wounded in the thigh and died 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



133 




Map of Randolph County as laid off by Judge Turner in 1795. 



134 A Student's History of Illinois. 

in a few weeks. Biggs was not hit by the Indians but his 
horse received four bullet wounds. Biggs was captured and 
was taken to an Indian village and after being held for sev- 
eral weeks was released and came home. In 1826 he wrote 
out and published the entire story of his capture which is very 
interesting. 

The other matter referred to, the Spaniards' refusal of the 
use of the lower Mississippi, did not concern the Illinois peo- 
ple very much. Spain held New Orleans from 1763 till its 
recession to France. During a part of that time Spain re- 
fused to allow our river boats to land our produce on the 
wharf for re-shipment. But in 1795 a treaty was made with 
that country by which we secured the privilege of the right 
of "deposit." From this time till the purchase of Louisiana 
we had free access to the Port of New Orleans. 

159. Local Government. — The Ordinance of 1787 provided 
that when there should be 5,000 free male whites of the age 
of twenty-one years in the Northwest Territory they might or- 
ganize a legislature on the basis of one representative for each 
500 whites of the age of twenty-one. This was done in the 
year 1798. Shadrach Bond was elected to represent St. Clair 
county and John Edgar to represent Randolph county. The 
legislature met at Cincinnati on the 4th of February, 1799. 
There were twenty-two members in the lower house, repre- 
senting eleven counties. "William IT. Harrison who had suc- 
ceeded Sargent as secretary was elected a delegate to con- 
gress. In the session of congress in the winter of 1779-1800, 
the proposition to divide the Northwest Territory into two ter- 
ritories was referred to a committee of which Harrison was 
chairman. The report was favorably received by congress and 
on the 7th of May, 1800, an act was passed dividing the North- 
west Territory by a line running from the Ohio to Fort Re- 
covery and thence to the line separating the territory from 
Canada. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



135 



The western part was to be known as the Indiana Terri- 
tory and its government was to be of the first-class. Its capi- 
tal was located at Vincennes and the Governor was William 
Henry Harrison. The eastern division was called the North- 
west Territory, its capital was Chillicothe, and Governor St. 
Clair was still the chief executive. The east division was ad- 
mitted as a State in 1802, February 19. Illinois, Indiana, 
Wisconsin, and Michigan now became the Indiana Territory. 





HON. NEWTON BATEMAN. 
Superintendent of Public Instruction for 



HON. HENRY RAAB. 

Superintendent of Public Instruction for 

eight years. 



136 A Student's History of Illinois. 



CHAPTEE XVI. 

ILLINOIS A PART OF THE INDIANA TERRITORY. 

160. Governor Harrison. — On July 4, 1800, the Indiana 
Territory came into existence. General William Henry Har- 
rison, at that time a delegate in congress, was made governor 
of the new territory. The organization was that of a terri- 
tory of the first class, and John Gibson was appointed secre- 
tary, the judges being William Clark, John Griffin, and Henry 
Vranderbnrg. The county organization of Knox, St. Clair, 
and Randolph remained quite similar to that in force before 
the division. 

A very important work before General Harrison and his 
assistants in the government of the Indiana Territory was the 
pacification of the Indians. General Harrison won a very 
wide reputation for dealing with the Indians in treaties which 
he made at Ft. Wayne, Yincennes, and St. Louis. In these 
treaties he secured to the United States more than 30,000,000 
acres. 

The laws which were in force in the Indiana Territory 
were those in force in the Northwest Territory before the di- 
vision. There was, therefore, not much for the Governor and 
judges to do along the line of legislation. However, a legis- 
lative session was held in Vincennes January, 1801, at which 
six laws were passed pertaining to the organization of 
courts, etc. 

Dunn's Indiana, Commonwealth Series, gives the popula- 
tion of all the Indiana Territory, by the census of 1800, as 
follows: Mackinaw 251, fur traders around the Lakes 300, 
Green Bay 50, Prairie du Chien 65. in and around Cahokia 
719, Belle Fontaine 286, L'Aigle in St. Clair 250, Kaskas- 



A Student's History of Illinois. 137 

kia 467, Prairie du liocher 212, Mitchell township 334, Fort 
Massac 90, Clark's Grant 927, Vincennes 714, in adjacent 
country 819, the Wabash fur traders 55, near Peoria 100. To- 
tal, 5639. 

161. Slavery. — It has already been shown that slavery had 
been introduced into the Illinois country by Philip Renault 
in 1721. In that year he brought 500 slaves to the Louisiana 
Territory, but probably all were not brought to the Illinois 
country. But a large number was brought to Kaskaskia and 
from that day forward for a century, slavery was a fixed insti- 
tution in Illinois. In 1763, France ceded the Illinois country 
to Great Britain, and while there was nothing said in the 
treaty about slaves, the French people could freely remove to 
other countries or stay as they liked, and if they stayed they 
were to retain all their rights and privileges which they held 
prior to the treaty. General Gage in a proclamation to the 
people of the Illinois country in 1763 stated among other 
things, "That those who choose to retain their lands and be- 
come subjects of his majesty, shall enjoy the same rights and 
privileges, the same security for their persons and effects and 
the liberty of trade, as the old subjects of the King." So there 
was slavery in Illinois as a British possession just as when it 
was French territory. In 1783 Great Britain transferred this 
same territory to the United States. The United States in 
turn agreed to guarantee to the people security for persons 
and effects. Thus slavery was recognized. Again when Vir- 
ginia ceded her territory west of the Alleghany mountains 
she incorporated in her deed of cession the following — "Be it 
enacted — That the French and Canadian inhabitants and 
other settlers of the Kaskaskia, St. Vincents, and the neigh- 
boring villages, who have professed themselves citizens of 
Virginia shall have their possessions and titles confirmed to 
them, and be protected in the enjoyment of their rights and 
liberties." This was in 1784. 



138 A Student's History of Illinois. 

162. Interpretation. — In the same year an ordinance was 
passed to govern the Northwest Territory. An amendment 
was added the next year which said — "That there shall be 
neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in any of the states" 
which shall be made of the Northwest Territory. In the Ordi- 
nance of 1787, article the sixth provides — "There shall be 
neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said territory 
otherwise than in the punishment of crimes, whereof the party 
shall have been duly convicted." This clause was a source of 
fear to the inhabitants around Kaskaskia for they yet held 
many slaves. When Governor St. Clair arrived in the Illinois 
country in 1790 he put an interpretation upon the 6th article 
which quieted the slave holder very much. He gave it as his 
interpretation that the 6th article meant that no more slaves 
could be brought into the territory, but that the slaves that 
were already there were not to be disturbed. This was the 
construction put upon the article for the next several years. 

163. First Effort— On January 12, 1796, a petition was 
sent to congress from Kaskaskia, signed by John Edgar, Wm. 
Morrison, Wm. St. Clair, and John de Moulin for and on be- 
half of the inhabitants of the counties of St. Clair and Ran- 
dolph, praying that congress would annul the sixth article of 
the Ordinance of 1787. This article prohibited slavery in 
the territory. These petitions argued (1) That Virginia 
promised them through George Rogers Clark that they should 
be protected in all their rights and interests. (2) That while 
they now held slaves as in the days of the British supremacy, 
yet it was generally agreed that children born of slave parents 
would be free under the Ordinance. (3) That help was scarce 
and it was quite difficult to get laborers and mechanics. (4) 
Many excellent people coming from the old slave states go on 
into Spanish territory where slavery is permitted who else 
would locate in Illinois. 

This petition was forwarded to congress by Governor St. 
Clair. It was referred to a committee, who, through its chair- 



A Student's History of Illinois. 139 

man, Mr. Joshua Coit, reported that there was no evidence that 
Edgar and the other signers spoke for any one else than them- 
selves, and that there was strenuous opposition to granting 
the petition coining from the eastern part of the territory. 
The petition was not granted. 

164. Second Effort. — A second attempt was made to get 
the sixth article repealed or annulled in 1799. This was a 
petition of old soldiers to the legislature of Indiana for per- 
mission to bring their slaves with them into and upon the 
Virginia military reserve. The committee reported that the 
request "was incompatible with the articles of compact." The 
house endorsed the report. 

165. Third Effort. — In 1800 a petition was circulated 
about Kaskaskia, asking congress to annul the sixth article of 
the Ordinance. It was signed by nearly 300 names. It con- 
tained, in addition to a request for the abolition of the sixth 
article, a request that congress extinguish the title of the 
Kaskaskia Indians to lands in the Illinois country ; and again, 
the granting of tracts of lands to those who would open roads 
through the country and maintain taverns on them for the 
convenience of travellers. This petition was presented on the 
23d of January, 1801, but it was never acted upon. 

166. The Fourth Effort.— In 1802, while Governor Harri- 
son was in Kaskaskia on business, he was strongly urged to 
call a convention in Vincennes to take under advisement the 
admission of slavery into the territory. Such a convention 
was called, elections were held December 11, and the delegates 
were to come to Yincennes the 20th of that month. Eandolph 
sent three delegates, St. Clair three, Knox four, and 
Clark two — twelve delegates in all. Randolph sent Pierre 
Menard, Robert Reynolds, and Robert Morrison. St. Clair 
sent Jean Francois Perrey, Shadrach Bond, Sr., and John 
Moredeck. The convention was organized and proceeded to 
the business in hand. The delegates formulated their requests 
along the following lines : ( 1 ) They contended that the sixth 



140 A Student's History of Illinois. 

article had been the cause of slow growth in the Indiana Ter- 
ritory. (2) They asked only for a suspension of the article 
for ten years, after which it shall be in force. (3) Extinction 
of Kaskaskia Indian titles. (4) Pre-emption laws. (5) En- 
couragement of schools. (6) Granting large sections of land 
to those who would open roads. (?) The grant of the Saline 
Springs below the mouth of the Wabash to the Indiana Ter- 
ritory. 

167. Petition Not Granted. — The petition was presented 
to congress and on the 2d of March, 1803, the committee re- 
ported. They said : "The rapidly increasing population of 
the State of Ohio sufficiently evinces, in the opinion of your 
committee, that the labor of slaves is not necessary to promote 
the growth and settlement of colonies in that region." 

168. Indenture System. — The refusal of congress to grant 
the request of the Vincennes convention roused the people to 
a determination to take the matter into their own hands. Al- 
though the Ordinance of 1787 provided that the Governor 
and judges acting as a legislative body could adopt only such 
laws as were found upon the statute books of some one or 
more of the older states, the Governor and judges acting as 
the law-making branch of the Indiana Territory, on Septem- 
ber 22, 1803, passed "A Law Concerning Servants." It pro- 
vided that a person coming into the Territory "under contract 
to serve another in any trade or occupation shall be compelled 
to perform such contract during the term thereof." The con- 
tract was assignable to any citizen of the Territory, if the serv- 
ant consented . 

169. Immigration. — Intimately related with this subject 
of slavery in the Indiana Territory, was the question of ad- 
vancement to the second grade of territorial form of govern- 
ment. This indenture law of 1803, was not regarded as a 
very safe guarantee to the southern slave holder, and few 
slaves were brought in. Notwithstanding this timidity on 
the part of the slave owner to migrate into the Northwest Ter- 



A Student's History of Illinois. 141 

ritory, there was a constant stream of people coming from the 
non-slaveholding states and also non-slaveholders from the 
slave states. There can be little doubt that Harrison and his 
friends were favorable to some plan by which slavery could be 
introduced, but unless something could be done soon there 
would be no chance as the whole territory would be anti- 
slavery. 

170. Second Class. — The law of congress creating the In- 
diana Territory, also provided that the government might at 
any time be changed to the second class when the majority of 
the people favored such a change. It was argued that laws 
passed by a representative legislature would be regarded with 
more consideration than those enacted by the governor and 
judges. Besides they would have a delegate in congress who 
while not being allowed to vote would yet be of great service 
to the people of the Territory. The governor, therefore, is- 
sued a call for an election to test the wish of the people as to 
the change from the first grade of government to the second 
grade. The election was called August 4, 1804, to be held 
September 11 ; and the complaint was made that the time was 
too short for even all the voters to learn of the election. Cer- 
tainly something worked against a full poll of the territory 
as only 400 votes were cast. The majority in favor of the 
change was 138. 

171. First Legislature. — The governor called an election 
for members of the legislature. The election was held on 
January 3, 1805, and on February 1, they convened at Vin- 
cennes. There were nine members of the lower house. Ean- 
dolph sent Dr. George Fisher, while St. Clair sent Shadrach 
Bond and Wm. Biggs. The council was selected in the usual 
way. Pierre Menard represented Randolph and John Hay 
was St. Clair's representation in that body. The full legis- 
lature met July 29, 1805. The first thing was the election of 
a representative or delegate to congress. Benjamin Parke 
was chosen. The next thing was to pass "An Act concern- 



142 A Student's History of Illinois. 

ing the introduction of negroes and mulattoes into this ter- 
ritory." This was an indenture law. It provided that any 
slave-holder might bring his slave into the territory, and enter 
into an agreement with the slave as to the length of time the 
slave was to work for the owner. If the slave refused to enter 
into a contract, the owner had sixty days in which to return 
him to a slave state. The "indenture" was acknowledged be- 
fore the clerk of the court and placed on record. The slave 
was then known as an indented slave or an indented ser- 
vant. If the slave-holder has slaves under fifteen years of age 
he may simply register them with the clerk of the court. The 
males must then serve the owner till they are thirty-five, and 
females till they are thirty-two. Children born of indented 
parents must serve their masters — males till they are thirty- 
two, females till they are twenty-eight. 

172. Indiana Territory Divided. — From the day the In- 
diana Territory was set off from what came to be the state of 
Ohio, the people of Illinois began to agitate the matter of di- 
viding the Indiana Territory. The Illinois people complained 
that it was a great inconvenience to go so far to the seat of 
government. In a petition to congress the Illinois people 
complained that the road to Vincennes was a hundred and 
eighty miles through an uninhabited country which it was 
really dangerous io travel. 

Another argument was that the governor, Wm. H. Har- 
rison, appointed only friends to office and that all important 
places were filled with the governor's Indiana friends. 

A third argument in favor of the division was that the 
people in the Illinois region were favorable to slavery while 
the Indiana people were quite indifferent to the subject of 
introducing slavery. The Illinois people thought if they 
could get a separate territorial government, they could man- 
age many problems peculiar to the Illinois people better than 
could the legislature as then composed. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 143 

In the session of the legislature in Vincennes in 1808, 
a delegate to congress was to be elected. Mr. Jesse B. Thomas, 
the presiding officer, promised the Illinois members if they 
would vote for him as delegate to congress, he would secure the 
division. The bargain was made and carried out. 

February 3, 1809, Congress passed an act separating the 
Indiana Territory, by a line running north from Vincennes to 
Canada, into the two territories of Indiana and Illinois. 



S^S^s^.s 







sy^-z^t-jz^ 



ZZ^ae^C 









S Cj3iZ&z4r^>z*t-*^-£- d?£z^i>-e-*J 




The old style of Teacher's Certificate, issued by the County School Commissioner. 



144 A Student's History of Illinois. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

ILLINOIS TERRITORY. 

173. First Class. — The bill which passed congress and was 
signed by the President February 3, 1809, contained eight 
sections. The first — "Be it enacted .... That, from and after 
the first day of March next, that part of the Indiana Territory 
which lies west of the Wabash river, and a direct line drawn 
from Post Vincennes due north, to the territorial line between 
the United States and Canada, shall, for the purpose of tem- 
porary government, constitute a separate territory and be 
called Illinois." The second section provided for a govern- 
ment of the first class — a governor, three judges, a secretary. 
The third provided for their appointment by the President. 
The fourth allowed the governor to call an election for the 
purpose of determining the desire of the people to enter the 
second grade of territorial government. And if favorable then 
he was to carry such desire into effect. Article five prohibited 
Indiana officials from exercising authority in Illinois. Ar- 
ticle sixth provided that all suits and proceedings in process 
of being settled should be completed as if the division had not 
been made. Article seven guaranteed to the Indiana govern- 
ment the current taxes due from lands lying in Illinois. Ar- 
ticle eight fixed the seat of government at Kaskaskia until 
such time as the legislature should locate it elsewhere. 

Nathaniel Pope was appointed secretary, April 24. He 
was, for four or five years previous to his appointment, a resi- 
dent of St. Genevieve but practiced law in Illinois. Mnian 
Edwards was appointed Governor also on April 24, 1809. He 
was a judge of the court in Kentucky. The judges were Alex- 
ander Stuart, Obadiah Jones, and Jesse B. Thomas. Jud^e 



A Student's History of Illinois. 145 

Stuart was transferred to Missouri, and Stanley Griswold 
filled the vacancy. 

Governor Edwards was a man of unusual parts. He had a 
collegiate training and was a man of wonderful resources. 
Henry Clay is said to have indorsed Judge Edwards for this 
place, saying, "I have no doubt that the whole representation 
from the State (Kentucky) would concur in ascribing to him 
every qualification for the office in question/' 

174. Government in Operation. — Nathaniel Pope who was 
at Kaskaskia much earlier than Governor Edwards, issued a 
proclamation establishing the two counties of Randolph and 
St. Clair. Governor Edwards arrived in June and immedi- 
ately called a legislative session of the governor and judges. 
The laws first provided were those previously in force in the 
Indiana Territory. The action of the secretary in appointing 
local officers was confirmed. Among these territorial officers 
we may mention Robert Morrison, Adjutant General, Benja- 
min Stephenson, Sheriff of Randolph, and John Hays, sheriff 
of St. Clair. Other minor positions were filled in the two 
counties. 

The government of the Illinois Territory was now com- 
pletely organized and the people had realized what was for 
many years a buoyant hope. They said in favor of division, 
that it would increase immigration and bring prosperity to 
a lagging and unremunerative industrial life. They argued 
that towns would spring up, farms would be opened, and that 
commerce would be greatly augmented. Their prophecy was 
fulfilled. 

175. Land Offices. — By a law of congress, passed March 
26, 1804, there were established three land offices — one at Kas- 
kaskia, one at Vincennes, and one at Detroit. When the 
United States came into possession of the public domain, 
there was no thought of attempting to dispose of it in smaller 
tracts than many thousands of acres. It was supposed that 
large companies and wealthy individuals would buy these large 



146 A Student's History of Illinois. 

tracts and then go into the retail business. When Mr. Harri- 
son was a delegate in congress, he got a bill through which 
reduced the tracts to one square mile — 640 acres. The price 
fixed was $2.00 per acre, one-fourth to be paid in cash and 
three-fourths on credit. Later the size of the tract was re- 
duced; so also was the price. The establishing of the land 
office at Kaskaskia in 1804, greatly increased the immigration 
to the Illinois country. So much so that the population of 
Illinois grew from 2,500 in 1800 to 12,282 in 1810, by the 
census of those dates. 

176. Extent of Settlements. — When Governor Edwards 
came to take charge of affairs in the Illinois Territory, or 
shortly thereafter, in addition to the number of settlements in 
the two counties of Randolph and St. Clair, there were set- 
tlements in the territory composing the counties of Jackson, 
Union, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Gallatin, Monroe. In spite 
of the complaints made of the drawbacks of the undivided ter- 
ritory prior to 1809, there had been a great increase in popu- 
lation, in industries, in home-making, and in all the activities 
which were destined eventually to make Illinois a great State. 

But shortly after Governor Edwards arrived in the new 
territory, the peace and safety of the ten thousand inhabitants 
were threatened. The Indians had, in recent years, ceded 
nearly all their claims to land in Indiana and Illinois, and 
they now became dissatisfied, and their minds were inflamed. 
Tecumseh and the Prophet were busy inciting the Indians to 
deeds of violence. Almost constant interviews were going on 
between the Indians and those in authority in the two terri- 
tories. The battle of Tippecanoe was fought on the 6th of 
November, 1811, and while Illinois had no military organiza- 
tion in the battle, yet there were individuals from around the 
Salt Works and Shawneetown who took part in the engage- 
ment. Colonel Isaac White of Shawneetown, a lessee of the 
Salt Works, was a personal friend of Governor Harrison. He 



A Student's History of Illinois. 147 

took part in the campaign and was killed in the battle above 
referred to. 

177. The Coming War. — In 1811, Governor Edwards took 
a very active part in putting his territory in a state of defense 
and is said to have expended large sums of money from his 
private purse for the equipment of the militia. Congress also 
organized a regiment of rangers in the west. It was put in 
command of Col. Wm. Russell, of Kentucky. Four of the 
companies were organized in Illinois and officered by Captains 
Samuel Whitesides, Wm. B. Whitesides, James B. Moore, and 
Jacob Short. These rangers and some of the militia were 
actively engaged in the Indian campaigns connected with the 
war of 1812. In the region of Shawneetown there were four 
companies organized. The captains were Willis Hargrave, 
Wm. McHenry, Nathaniel Journey and Thos. E. Craig. An- 
other company was raised by Capt. Wm. Boone on the Big 
Muddy river. Blockhouses were built everywhere. Probably 
as many as twenty-five blockhouses and crude forts were con- 
structed in what is now called Southern Illinois. 

178. The Defenses.— A writer to the Missouri Gazette, 
March 20, 1813, said: "We have now nearly finished twenty- 
two family forts (stations) extending from the Mississippi, 
nearly opposite Belief ontaine (the mouth of the Missouri) to 
the Kaskaskia river, a distance of about sixty miles ; between 
each (two forts) fort spies are to pass and re-pass daily and 
communicate throughout the whole line, which will be ex- 
tended to the United States Saline (near the town of 
Equality) and thence to the mouth of the Ohio. Rangers and 
mounted militia, to the amount of 500 men, constantly scour 
the country from twenty to fifty miles in advance of our set- 
tlements, so that we feel perfectly easy as to an attack from 
our red brethren, as Mr. Jefferson very lovingly calls them." 
These block-houses were built of logs and were usually two 
stories high, the second story projecting over the first story on 
all four sides. In the floor of the projection were port holes 



148 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



through which the occupants could shoot down on the Indians. 
There were port holes in the sides also of both stories. The 
writer well remembers hearing an old lady, Mrs. Medusa 
Piper, of Greene county, tell how she and her father's family 
took refuge in one of these block-houses which was built near 
Kaskaskia. 

Reynolds says that often four block-houses were arranged 
in the form of a square, one at each corner, probably a hundred 
feet apart. In between was a palisade of logs set on end ten 
or fifteen feet high. Into these stockades the neighbors 
brought all their stock and other movables. They would re- 
main in these enclosures for sev- 
eral days. The timber or other 
obstruction was removed for sev- 
eral yards around in all directions, 
thus enabling the occupants to 
give the Indians a warm reception. 
In these crudely constructed de- 
fenses, they had the usual neigh- 
borhood "scraps," while on Sun- 
days they always had their regular 




&$?j0- J. 'j. %*m 




religious service. In case of at- 
tacks by the Indians there was an 
immediate proclamation of mar- 
tial law. The women made bul- 
lets and in other ways assisted in 
the defense of the fort. 

179. War Declared.— It was 
known in the Illinois Territory 

that war with England was inevitable, and that the Indians 
of the region around the lakes would join in the war on the 
side of the British. War was declared June 19, 1812, and on 
the 15th of August General Hull surrendered Detroit. This 
misfortune to the American cause aroused general activity 
among the Indians, and the massacre of the garrison at Fort 



Block-houses and Stockade Such as 
were Built in the War of \ 8 12. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 149 

Dearborn followed. This was one of the greatest calamaties 
that had ever befallen the Illinois country and while it is a 
story of savage butchery, the story must be told. 

180. Fort Dearborn Massacre. — The locality, known as 
Chicago from a very early date, was permanently marked by 
a fort called Fort Dearborn, in 1803-4. There were settlers 
and traders here before this date. When hostilities began in 
1812, this fort was in charge of Capt. Nathan Heald. Other 
officers were Lieutenant Liani F. Helm, Ensign George Ko- 
nan, Surgeon Isaac Van Yoorhis. John Kinzie was the prin- 
cipal Indian trader. There were seventy-four soldiers in the 
garrison. By the middle of the summer of 1812, the Indians 
became very demonstrative and two murders were committed, 
and other violent conduct engaged in. Captain Heald had re- 
ceived orders to evacuate the fort and move his command to 
Fort Wayne. He was advised by friendly Indians to prepare 
for a siege, or to leave the fort at once. He did not take this 
advice but notified the Indians that he expected to abandon 
the fort and that lie would distribute the public property 
among them. This action on the part of the commanding of- 
ficer, it was supposed, would greatly please the Indians and 
this would guarantee his safe passage to Fort Wayne. This 
decision on the part of Captain Heald was strongly opposed 
by the officers and Kinzie, the trader. As soon as this word 
was circulated among the Indians, they became insolent and 
treated the authority of Captain Heald with contempt. By 
the 12th of August the Indians had gathered in large num- 
bers and a council was held in which Captain Heald told the 
Indians his plans. He proposed to distribute among them all 
his public stores, and in return they were to furnish him an 
escort of 500 warriors to Fort Wayne. There immediately 
grew up in the fort the greatest fear for the safety of the little 
garrison. Fear grew to despair, and open rebellion against 
the order of the commander was imminent. 



150 A Student's History of Illinois. 

Captain Heald decided that he would destroy the guns, am- 
munition, and liquor in the fort, as these in the hands of the 
Indians would only be the means of death to the garrison. 

On the 13th of August the goods were distributed among 
the Indians. They soon discovered that there were certain 
things which they expected that they did not receive, and they 
began to show their dissatisfaction and disappointment. On 
the 14th Captain Wells, a brother to Mrs. Heald, arrived with 
some friendly Miamis. He had been brought up among the 
Indians and he knew from what he saw and heard that "all 
was not well.'' 

On the morning of the 15th the sun rose gloriously over 
Lake Michigan. By nine o'clock the little army was ready to 




Old Fort Dearborn, built in the year 1803. 

depart for Fort Wayne. Each soldier was given twenty-five 
rounds of ammunition. The baggage wagons, the ambulance, 
and the little army proceeded on their fatal journey. 

When a mile and a half from the fort they discovered In- 
dians hidden behind sand hills, ready to attack. The soldiers 



A Student's History of Illinois. 151 

were fired upon and returned the fire. The conflict then be- 
came general and lasted for some time. Finally after nearly 
half of the soldiers had been killed, the remnant surrendered. 
In the agreement to surrender no stipulation was made as to 
the treatment of the wounded, and it is said by eye witnesses 
that their treatment by the infuriated Indians beggars all 
description. Twenty-six regulars, twelve militia, two women 
and twelve children were left dead on the field of conflict. 
The prisoners were scattered here and there but were finally 
ransomed. 

181. Illinois Campaigns. — When news of this dreadful af- 
fair reached Kaskaskia, Governor Edwards decided to take 
immediate steps for the protection of his people. Fort Rus- 
sell was built one and a half miles northwest of Edwardsville. 
This was made headquarters. Here were collected several 
companies, munitions, and provisions. An expedition was 
planned to proceed to Peoria and there attack the Indians. 
Little was accomplished by the expedition except to destroy 
property and kill a few fleeing savages. Quite a little plunder 
was captured and after an absence of thirteen days the expe- 
dition returned to Fort Russell. In this campaign were two 
future governors of Illinois, John Reynolds and Thomas 
Carlin. 

Another expedition was planned against the Indians of 
the Illinois river region in 1813, but it was barren of results. 
Still other expeditions went into the northern part of Illinois 
from the south end of the State; in one of these. Major 
Zachary Taylor, a future president of the United States was in 
command. 

182. Wood River Massacre. — A study of the roster of offi- 
cers and men who took part in this border warfare, reveals a 
number of names prominent in the history of the State. From 
the beginning to the end of this struggle there were probably 
two or three thousand citizens enrolled in the service. Scores 
of lives were lost — most of them near their houses. It remains 



152 A Student's History of Illinois. 

to tell a story of horrid butchery which occurred on Wood 
river in Madison county, on the 10th day of July, 1814. Mrs, 
Rachel Reagan and two children went to spend the day at the 
house of Wm. Moore. In the afternoon on her way home, 
she came by another neighbors house, Captain Abel Moore. 
From the latter place she was accompanied by four small chil- 
dren, two of Wm. Moore's and two of Abel Moore's. When 
the little company of seven were between the homes of Abel 
Moore and Mrs. Reagan, they were attacked by savages and 
six were killed outright ; the seventh, a little boy, was found 
alive but died from the effects of his wounds. Wm. Moore 
returned home from Fort Butler (near St. Jacobs) and find- 
ing the children absent went in search of them. They were 
found but the Indians were still lurking in the immediate 
locality and the bodies were not recovered till the next morn- 
ing. The two forts, Russell and Butler, were notified and a 
pursuing party organized. The savages were followed to a 
point north of Jacksonville and one of them killed, the rest 
escaped. More than fifty non-combatants lost their lives in 
Illinois during this war. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 153 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

ILLINOIS TERRITORY. 

183. Second Class. — The fourth section of the act of con- 
gress of February, 1809, dividing the Indiana Territory, pro- 
vided that so much of the Ordinance of 1787 as applied to the 
organization of a legislative assembly, should apply to the 
government of the Illinois Territory whenever satisfactory 
evidence should be given to the governor that it was the wish 
of the majority of the freeholders, though there might not be 
5,000 legal voters as provided in the Ordinance. 

By 1812, considerable interest was manifested relative to 
the change from the first to a second grade territory. 

The Ordinance of 1787 permitted only freeholders to vote, 
and so when Governor Edwards called the election in the 
spring of 1812, to determine the wish of the voters on the 
proposed change to a territory of the second grade, there were 
fewer than 400 votes cast, but they were nearly unanimous in 
favor of the proposed change. In May following this vote, 
congress enfranchised all white male persons over twenty-one 
years of age, and advanced Illinois to the second grade. 

184. Organizing the Government. — On September 16, 
1812, the Governor and judges acting as a legislative body 
created three new counties. The two old ones were St. Clair 
and Randolph, and the three new ones were Madison, Gallatin, 
and Johnson. On the same day an election was ordered in 
these five counties for five members of the legislative council, 
and for seven members of the house of representatives, and 
for a delegate in congress. The election was held October 
8, 9, 10. 



154 A Student's History of Illinois. 

Those chosen were, for the lower house, from Madison, 
Wm. Jones; St. Clair, Jacob Short and Joshua Oglesby; 
Randolph, George Fisher; Johnson, John Grammar; Galla- 
tin, Philip Trammel and Alexander Wilson. Those chosen 
for the council were, from Madison, Samuel Judy ; St. Clair, 
Wm. Biggs; Randolph, Pierre Menard; Johnson, Thomas 
Ferguson; Gallatin, Benjamin Talbot. 

This General Assembly met at Kaskaskia November 25, 
and proceeded to organize by choosing Pierre Menard presi- 
dent of the council and George Fisher speaker of the house. 
Reynolds says the whole of the assembly boarded at one house 
and slept in one room. The work before this first session was 
to re-enact the laws for the territory which served while the 
territory was of the first class, to adopt military measures for 
the defense of the people against the Indians, and to provide 
revenue for the maintenance of the territorial government. 
The legislature was in session from the 25th of November to 
the 26th of December, following. This legislature elected 
Shadrach Bond as delegate to congress. He took his seat in 
the fall of 1812. During his term of office in congress Bond 
secured the passage of the first pre-emption law of Illinois. 
This laAV provided that a man who settled upon a piece of 
land and made an improvement while it was still government 
land, should have the right to buy the tract so improved in 
preference to any one else. This law prevented persons from 
buying lands which some one else had improved to the detri- 
ment of the one who made the improvement. 

185. Some Early Laws. — The hrws which were in force in 
Illinois as a first class territory were all taken from the laws 
of some older state. Those passed by the legislature while 
the territory was in the second grade were usually of the same 
nature as those in use under the first grade. It will be very 
interesting as well as quite instructive for us to know some of 
these laws. A few are given in substance : 



A Student's History of Illinois. 155 

For burglary, whipping on the bare back, 39 stripes. Lar- 
ceny, 31 stripes. Horse-stealing, 50 lashes, and 100 for sec- 
ond offense. Hog-stealing, 25 to 39 lashes. Bigamy, 100 to 
300 stripes. Children or servants who were disobedient could 
be whipped 10 lashes by consent of the justice. If a man 
were fined and could not pay, his time could be sold by the 
sheriff. Standing in the pillory was a common mode of pun- 
ishment. Branding was authorized in extreme cases. There 
were five crimes for which the penalty was death by hanging 
— they were treason, murder, arson, rape, and for 2d convic- 
tion of horse-stealing. "For reveling, quarreling, fighting, 
profanely cursing, disorderly behavior at divine worship, and 
hunting on the Sabbath, penalties by fines were prescribed." 

The laws providing for the collection of debts were all 
quite favorable to the creditor. No property, real or personal, 
was exempt from judgment and execution ; and if the prop- 
erty did not satisfy a debt, the debtor could be cast into prison. 

By an act of December 24, 1814, entitled "To promote 
retaliation upon hostile Indians" we see to what ends the set- 
tlers were driven to defend themselves against the savage red- 
men. It was enacted that — (abridged) : 

1. When the Indians make incursions into any locality and kill 
or commit other depredations, any citizen shall be paid $50.00 for 
killing or capturing such Indian. If killed or captured by a ranger, 
$25.00. 

2. Any person receiving permission from a commanding officer 
to go into the Indian territory and shall kill an Indian shall be paid 
$100.00. 

3. Rangers in parties of 15 who make incursions into the coun- 
try of hostile Indians shall receive $50.00 for each Indian killed, or 
squaw taken prisoner. 

186. Pre-emption Law. — Shadrach Bond was the first del- 
egate from Illinois to sit in congress. He was elected in 1812. 
During his term as delegate in congress he secured the enact- 
ment of the first pre-emption law ever put upon the statute 
books in the United States. This law will be better appre- 



156 A Student's History of Illinois. 

dated when we understand some of the practices of fron- 
tier life. 

The wave of immigration often traveled westward faster 
than the surveyors did. In such cases the settler never knew 
just where his land would fall when the region was platted 
by the surveyor. And again, after the surveyor had done his 
work it often happened that the surveyed land was not placed 
on the market for a number of years. The settler usually se- 
lected his lands and made improvements with the expectation 
that he would buy the land when it came on the market. Un- 
principled men would watch and would often step in ahead of 
the settler at the land office and buy the improved land at gov- 
ernment prices. This often resulted in violence and blood- 
shed. 

Bond's pre-emption law recognized the settler's equity in 
the improvements, and prevented anyone else from buying the 
land without the consent of the one who had improvef it. This 
was legislating in the interest of the pioneers who had borne 
the burden and the heat of the day. 

187. Immigration. — There was a rapid increase in the pop- 
ulation of the Territory of Illinois from the day it became a 
territory of the second grade. New counties were added to 
the five previously named. The new ones were — Edwards and 
White in 1815; Monroe, Crawford, Jackson, Pope, Bond, in 
1816; Union, Franklin, and Washington in 1818. 

It should be kept in mind that some of these counties were 
organized with very few people. However the population was 
greatly multiplying, for by 1818 there were nearly 40,000 
people within the State. There were at least five factors 
which favored an increase in population. 

1. The pre-emption law above noted. When one feared 
that his land which he was improving might be taken from 
him, he was not likely to care about making permanent im- 
provements, and hence permanent settlers were few. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 157 

2. The modes of travel and everything connected with 
travelling had improved. Steamboats were plying the Ohio 
and the Mississippi rivers. The passage from Pittsburg to 
Shawneetown could be made in a few days. Besides, roads, 
bridges, ferries, and taverns had greatly improved. 

3. The policy of organizing counties was a far-sighted one. 
Settlers would not locate where there was no local civil gov- 
ernment. The newly organized counties grew rapidly. 

4. The treaties made with the Indians at the close of the 
war of 1812-15 were calculated to reassure the settlers con- 
cerning the safety of the frontiers. 

5. Not least was the fact that just after a war is usually a 
time of more or less restlessness, and many people change 
their locations. The close of the war of 1812-15 marked the 
movement of large immigrations into the west. 

188. Banks and Banking. — The territorial legislature of 
Illinois held three general sessions— one in 1812, one in 1814, 




A Bill Issued by The Bank of Cairo in 1 8 4 J . The Bank of Cairo was 
Located in Kaskaskia. 



and one in 1816. This last legislature held two sessions on 
account of the extra work in admitting Illinois as a State. 

Our neighboring states of Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and 
Missouri had each a system of banking which furnished an 



158 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



abundance of money; indeed very much of this money found 
its way into Illinois. The legislature of 1816 passed a law 
chartering banks at Shawneetown, Kaskaskia and Edwards- 
ville. We shall speak of these more fully in a later chapter. 




There was a charter issued by the legislature of 1817-18 
incorporating the City and Bank of Cairo. At this time there 
was nothing in the nature of a town or city where Cairo now 



Student's History of Illinois. 



159 



stands. The lower part of the peninsula was claimed by sev- 
eral brothers by the name of Bird. The company called the 
City and Bank of Cairo consisted of John G. Comyges, Thos. 
H. Harris, Charles Slade, Shadrach Bond, Michael Jones, 
Warren Brown, Edward Humphries, and Charles W. Hunter. 
They proposed to sell 2,000 Cairo city lots at $150 each, 
put $50 out of each sale into levees, and a hundred dollars 
into a bank. The bank was opened in Kaskaskia in a brick 
building adjacent to the land office. The bill seen on a pre- 
ceding page bears date January 1, 1841. This bill was issued 
to J. Hall and was signed by T. Jones, cashier, and I). J. 
Baker, president. David Jewett Baker was a prominent law- 
yer in Illinois from 1819 till his death in 1869. The charter 
of this bank was for twenty years, but in 1837 its charter was 
extended another twenty years, but in 1813 it was annulled 
and the bank closed its doors and wound up its business. 




Copyright by Goulty. 
The Present View of Nauvoo from the Iowa side of the river. 



160 A Student's History of Illinois. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



A RETROSPECT. 



189. A Growing Country. — The year 1818 was a notable 
one in the history of Illinois. In this year was realized an 
event which many had looked forward to with great interest ; 
this was the year when the State became of age. Its history 
reached back to the discovery by Marquette and Joliet, nearly 
a hundred and fifty years. It had actually been settled by 
whites for one hundred and eighteen years. 

Its people had lived successively under three governments 
— the French, the English, and the American. Immigration 
had reached it from three sources — the north, the south, and 
the east. Each of the three quarters brought its own peculiar 
people. No other district of equal area created such wide- 
spread interest in Europe as the Illinois country. The fame 
of its rich soil, its noble rivers, its wide stretching lake, its 
abundance of wild game, its famous wealth of mines, and its 
geographical situation was spread abroad by every traveller 
who chanced to traverse its boundless prairies or to thread its 
silvery streams. 

For a century after the planting oi ihe first permanent set- 
tlement the growth of institutional life was very slow. The 
people for a large part, were unambitious, thriftless, and lived 
without purpose. Those who were responsible for the contin- 
uous ongoing of the settlements looked upon them as a means 
only to an end, which end was not within the grasp of those 
who were building more wisely than they knew. The French 
settlements on the Mississippi could never have lived through 
the century following their founding, had it not been for the 
strong arm of the royal government, and the equally strong 



A Student's History of Illinois. 161 

support of the church. How different from the Anglo-Saxon 
settlements on the Atlantic coast which prospered in spite of 
both royalty and ecclesiasticism. 

At the beginning of the nineteenth century there were 
probably less than 3,000 souls in the territory. They were 
distributed chiefly along the Mississippi, a few being on the 
Ohio, and a few along the Wabash river. 

190. The Industries. — The chief lines of industrial life 
were farming, commerce, trading, manufacturing, lumbering, 
fishing, etc. Wheat was raised in large quantities in the 




Ruins of a Grist Steam Mill built by the side of the Paz Pagi Mill near 

Kasfcasfcia. The two buhr-stones seen in the ruins were brought 

from France and used in the Pax Pagi Mill. Many of the 

timbers seen are as much as twelve inches square. 

American Bottom. The harvesting was done with the old 
fashioned sickle. Eeynolds says there were no cradles in those 
days. The wheat was threshed with flail or tramped out by 
means of horses. The wheat was ground at water mills or 
horse mills. 



162 A Student's History of Illinois. 

In 1806 the nearest gristmill to the people south and east 
of Xaskaskia was John Edgar's mill near Kaskaskia. Corn 
was raised but not so extensively as wheat. Hogs were fat- 
tened by allowing them to feed upon the mast which in that 
early day was abundant. The corn was used to make "lye 
hominy' and "samp;' 1 whiskey was distilled by some of the 
settlers who had come from Tennessee, Kentucky, or the 
mountainous districts of Virginia. Considerable whiskey was 
drunk, especially on public days. Fruits were plentifully 
grown. The French villagers usually had a few fruit trees in 
their back yards. Flax was grown in considerable quantities. 
Eeynolds says that half of the population made their living 
by the chase, as coureur du bois, or keel boating. The lead 
mines in the northwest part of the State and in southwestern 
Wisconsin furnished an excellent market for the surplus food 
products of the Illinois settlements. The transportation of 
this provison to the mines and the return with lead down the 
river, gave work for a large contingent of river men. 

Lumber was not extensively used. But there were a few 
mills for making lumber. The whip saw was the chief de- 
pendence for sawing boards, but in about 1800 a water mill for 
both sawing and grinding was erected on Horse creek. The 
lumber was used quite largely in building flat boats for the 
river trade. Some of it, of course, was used in the construc- 
tion of houses. 

Among the limited kinds of manufacturing, the making 
of flour was perhaps the most general. This flour was mar- 
keted in St. Louis, in the lead mines, in New Orleans, in the 
eastern states, and some of it is said to have been shipped to 
Europe. Salt was made at the Salines, in what is now Gal- 
latin county, also in Jackson county on Big Muddy, in Mon- 
roe, 7 or 8 miles west of Waterloo, in Bond, and possibly in 
other localities. There were few tanneries, though Conrad 
Will had one in Jackson county as early as 1814. It is said 
that the French women did not take kindly to such work as 



A Student's History of Illinois. 163 

making butter, spinning, weaving, etc. Blacksmiths were 
scarce, and so the wagons of those early days were made chiefly 
of wood, as were also the plows. 

191. Education. — Schools were scarce. It is said that the 
Jesuits had a school in Kaskaskia in the middle of the eight- 
eenth century. Samuel J. Seely is said to have been the first 
American school teacher in Illinois. He taught school in New 
Design. He came there as early as 1783 and taught in an 
abandoned squatter's cabin. The school was continued the 
next year by Francis Clark, and he was followed by an Irish- 
man named Halfpenny. Eeynolcls calls Halfpenny the "School 
Master General of Illinois/' because he taught in so many lo- 
calities. He built a water mill on Fountaine creek, not far 
from Waterloo, in 1795. Monroe had schools as early as 1800. 
Randolph had a school as early as 1790. The teacher was 
John Doyle, a soldier with Colonel Clark in 1778. A Mr. 
Davis, an old sailor, taught in the fort in Baldwin precinct in 
1816. John Bradsbury, "faithful but not learned,' 1 taught a 
school in Madison county near Collinsville as early as 180-1. 
John Atwater opened a school near Edwardsville in 1807. 
St. Clair county had for a pioneer teacher John Mes- 
senger, who was also a surveyor. Schools were opened at Tur- 
key Hill in 1808 by John Bradley, and at Shiloh in 1811. 
Some notion of what the early school houses were may be 
formed from the following account written by one of the old- 
est living representatives of the profession of teaching — Dr. 
Samuel Willard, M.D., LL.D., of Chicago. 

For the first school, the settlers met with a yoke or two of 
oxen, with axes, a saw, and an auger ; no other tools were 
necessary though a frow or tool for splitting out clapboards 
was desirable. The first settlements were never in the open 
prairies, but always on the skirts of the timber land or in the 
woods; the school house had the same location. Trees were 
cut from the public lands; rough trimmed and unhewn, they 
were put together to make a log house, generally sixteen feet 



164 A Student's History of Illinois. 

square ; a hole was cut on one side for a side door ; a larger 
hole on the other side to allow the building of an outdoor 
chimney. The roof was made of clapboards, roughly split 
out, which were held in place by "weight poles" laid on the 
ends of the clapboards and secured by pins or otherwise. Three 
or four days' labor might be enough to do all this and to add 
the chimney and the furniture; the walls and roof, with a 
fairly numerous company, would require but the second day. 
Generally such a house had no atom of iron in its structure; 
all was of wood or stone. We read of one of gum logs that 
sent forth sprouts and twigs after the house was built ; of an- 
other, which was used without door, or window, or "chinking." 

The next step was "chinking and daubing,". . . .not unfre- 
quently this work would be done by pupils and teacher. On 
at least one side the space between two logs would be left open 
to admit light; and this window would be closed by greased 

paper to exclude the rain and snow It was noted as a great 

rarity that a school house in Edwards county had a real glass 

window as early as 1824 The door was made of clapboards 

or slabs split thin, put together with wooden pins ; and it was 
hung on wooden hinges that creaked distressingly. Generally, 
a floor of puncheon was laid. 

The ceiling under the roof was another luxury; clapboards 
stretched from joist to joist; and in at least one case, bark 
from the linden tree was used, and earth was spread on this 
to keep out the cold. The chimney was large, six feet or more 
in width. It was even made so wide as to occupy all of one 
end of the house. The chimney was built of small poles and 
topped with sticks split to the size of an inch or two square, 
laid up in log house fashion ; then its chinks were filled with 
mud. The fire must be kindled by the aid of flint, steel and 
tinder, or coals must be brought from the nearest house. Fire- 
wood was cut four feet or more in length, and was generally 
green, fresh from the woods. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 165 

The school furniture was as primitive as the school house. 
The seats were made of puncheons, with four legs set into 
auger holes. Often the seat was too high for the little fel- 
lows ; and they could amuse themselves by swinging their legs 
vigorously. There were no desks except for the older pupils 
who took writing lessons. Stout pegs of sufficient length were 
set into auger holes in the wall, so as to slope downward ; on 
these supports, at convenient height, was fastened the 
smoothed puncheon. Thus the writing pupils sat or stood 
facing the wall. A pail or a "piggin" of water, with a gourd 
instead of tumbler or mug, was an essential part of the furni- 
ture. It was a reward of merit to be allowed to go to the 
spring or well to fill the bucket or piggin. 

192. The Catholics. — In an earlier day the Catholic church 
was the only religous organization. At Kaskaskia was the 
mission of the Immaculate Conception. This mission is said 
to have been founded by Father Marquette as early as 1675 
near the present town of ITtica. It was moved to Kaskaskia 
about 1700. About the same time a mission was founded at 
Cahokia, and later one at Fort Chartres. The mission of 
those early days served two general purposes — one to serve as 
a mile stone in the wanderings of the voyagers and explorers, 
and as place for spiritual invigoration ; the other as a cen- 
ter around which the natives could be gathered for religious 
instruction. The value of these early missionary efforts from 
the point of view of the conversion of the Indians, has prob- 
ably been over estimated. Marquette reports only the baptiz- 
ing of a dying infant at the end of three days hard preaching 
among the Kaskaskia Indians. Father Marest says, "Noth- 
ing is more difficult than the conversion of these Indians. Ee- 
ligion among them does not take deep root, as should be de- 
sired, and there are but few souls who from time to time give 
themselves truly to God." Father Membre says, "With regard 
to conversions I cannot rely upon any. We baptized some dy- 
ing children and two or three dying persons who manifested 



166 A Student's History of Illinois. 

proper dispositions.' 1 Father Vivier, a Jesuit, said, "The only 
good they (the missionaries) can do them is the administra- 
tion of baptism to children who are at the point of death," etc. 
But it must not be thought that the work of the Catholic 
church in the Illinois country was wholly fruitless. The 
godly life of the priests exerted its influence upon the savages 
whenever the two came in contact. 

193. The Baptists. — There were three leading protestant 
churches represented in Illinois prior to the admission of the 
State into the union. These were in order of their coming 
the Baptists, the Methodists, and the Presbyterians. The 
Baptists were represented in Illinois as early as 1787. In that 
year the Rev. James Smith, from Lincoln county, Kentucky, 
came to the New Design settlement and engaged in evangelis- 
tic work. Smith was followed by the Eev. John K. Simpson 
and his son, they by Rev. Smith, who had previously returned 
to Kentucky. Rev. Josiah Dodge came from Kentucky to 
visit his brother, who lived at St. Genevieve, and visited the 
settlers about New Design. Reynolds says that in February, 
1794, they cut the ice in Fountaine creek, and Rev. Dodge 
baptized James Lemen, Sr., his wife, John Gibbons, and Isaac 
Enochs, and that these were the first people baptized in the 
Territory. The Rev. David Badgley organized the first Bap- 
tist church in the Illinois Territory in the summer of 1796. 
The greatest representative of the Baptist faith in the early 
days of the State was Rev. John M. Peck, but he did not ar- 
rive till 1817 and we shall speak of his labors later. 

194. The Methodists.— The Methodists came into the Ter- 
ritory as early as 1793. They were first represented by the 
Rev. Joseph Lillard, who came from Kentucky. He was a 
circuit rider in that state. He organized a church at New 
Design and appointed Joseph Ogle as class leader. Ogle had 
been converted by a Baptist preacher in Kentucky, and had 
attached himself to the Methodists. The Rev. Hosea Riggs 
came in 1796 and he was followed by Benjamin Young who 



A Student's History of Illinois. 167 

was the first circuit rider with a regular appointment in Illi- 
nois. Probably the most noted of the early preachers was the 
Rev. Jesse Walker, who came from Kentucky by appointment 
from the "Western Conference." The Western Conference, 
held in 1806, appointed Jesse Walker circuit rider for the 
Illinois circuit which at that time was one of eight circuits of 
the Cumberland District. The Rev. Wm. Mclvendree, after- 
wards Bishop Mclvendree, was the Presiding Elder of the 
Cumberland District, and so earnest was he that Jesse Walker 
should get started that he* came with him to the Illinois Ter- 
ritory. They swam their horses across seven different 
streams, camped out at night and cooked their own meals. 
They finally arrived at the Turkey Hill settlement near the 
present city of Belleville. The winter of 1806-7 the Rev. 
Walker preached in the homes of the people in and around 
New Design. In the summer of 1808 he held a campmeeting 
which was doubtless the first effort of the kind ever made in 
the State. Walker soon had 218 members in the Illinois cir- 
cuit. He afterwards established a church in St. Louis. 

195. The Presbyterians. — The first Presbyterian preacher 
to visit the Illinois Territory was the Rev. John Evans Fin- 
ley. He reached Kaskaskia in a keel boat from Pittsburg in 
1797. "He preached and catechised, also baptized several of 
the redmen." Although the Rev. Mr. Finley fully intended to 
settle in the Illinois Territory, he and his companions decided 
to leave when they learned they would be obliged to do mili- 
tary duty. Two licentiates of the Presbyterian church, F. 
Schermerhorn and Samuel J. Mills were sent by the New 
England missionary societies into several of the western states 
in the year 1812. They made careful observations, preached, 
and made frequent reports of their work. "In the Illinois 
Territory, containing more than 12,000 people, there is no 
Presbyterian or Congregational minister. There are a num- 
ber of good people in the Territory who would be glad to have 
such ministers among them." These two missionaries stayed 
but a short time in Illinois and went on their way, reaching 



/ 



168 A Student's History of Illinois. 

Nashville the winter of 1812-13. The same Mr. Mills came 
again in 1814. On this trip he says, "This Territory is de- 
plorably destitute of bibles. In Kaskaskia a place of 80 or 
100 families there are, it is thought, not more than four or 
five. We did not find any place in the territory where a copy 
of the scripture could be obtained/' On January 20, 1815, 
he writes — "Shawneetown on the Ohio has about 100 houses. 
Six miles from Kaskaskia there is an Associate Reformed con- 
gregation of forty families." He says he heard of no other 
protestant preachers or members in all the region around 
Kaskaskia. But a Methodist preacher from near New Design 
told him that formerly there were several Presbyterians in 
that locality but they had now all joined either the Metho- 
dists or the Baptists. No Presbyterian preacher was settled 
or preached for any length of time before the coming of the 
Rev. James McGready in 1816. He organized the Sharon 
church, in what is now White county, in September of that 
year. To the Associate Reformed church mentioned above, 
Reynolds says there came in 1817 a reverend gentleman by 
the name of Samuel Wylie. 

He had a very prosperous congregation of Covenanters in 
Randolph county. He and his people became very noted 
throughout Southern Illinois. 

196. Society. — The social life of Illinois prior to 1818 was 
certainly not of a very high order. We do not mean there 
were no good people and that there were not those of culture 
and refinement, for indeed many of the people who became 
permanent settlers were from localities in the older states 
where the agencies of culture, learning, and religion were 
abundant. However, in any newly settled region there is al- 
ways found a very rough class of people, and while not neces- 
sarily in the majority in numbers, to the casual observer they 
stand out prominently and give character to the community 
at large. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 169 

In dress the early pioneers were content with the home- 
made product. The men often wearing breeches and shirt of 
the tanned hide of wild animals, and the cap of fox hide or 
of raccoon skin. This gave them a very rough appearance. 
Their homes were very crude and not always comfortable. 
The household utensils were such as could be manufactured 
by each head of the family. There were no stoves, cooking be- 
ing done on the fire-place hearth. 

Swapping work was quite common. The particular kinds 
of work referred to were wood chopping, corn gathering, har- 
vesting, house-raising, and road-making. Some of these gath- 
erings were very enjoyable to the pioneers for they would of- 
ten spread their meals upon the ground and gather about in 
modern picnic style. Dancing was a very common amusement 
and since there were very few preachers, there were few others 
to object. The French settlers especially were fond of danc- 
ing. Horse-racing was another very common recreation. The 
horse-races usually came off on Saturdays or on public days. 
Race tracks were common features of many localities. At these 
races other amusements were indulged in; fighting was no 
unusual thing. The "bully" was a man of notoriety. Swear- 
ing of the hardest sort was heard and while there were laws 
against it, still the people indulged. "Swearing by the name 
of God, Christ Jesus, or the Holy Ghost/' as well as Sabbath 
breaking, was finable from 50 cents to $2. 

Perhaps one of the most characteristic customs, and one 
that still lingers in many localities, was the "shooting match." 
A farmer's wife who had been quite lucky in raising turkeys, 
would dispose of them in the fall by means of the shooting 
match. If the turkey was to bring $1 then ten privileges to 
shoot must be bought at 10 cents each. When the necessary 
number of chances was taken then a mark was put up at a cer- 
tain distance and the contest began. The marksman who 
made the best shot got the turkey. Among these frontiersmen 
"taking a rest" was a confession of lack of skill. In some of 



170 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



the states south of the Potomac it was no uncommon thing to 
sell furniture in this way ; even the beef carcass was disposed 
of by the test of marksmanship. 




A View of the Ruins of a Gristmill a mile northeast of Kaskaskia. The Mill 
was built by one Pax Pagi early in the Eighteenth Century. It was run 
by water power. In this mill was ground the wheat and corn which fur- 
nished food for the French Soldiers stationed at Fort Duquesne in the 
French and Indian War. Pax Pagi and his negro slaves were massacred 
by Kickapco Indians, their bodies chopped to pieces and thrown into the 
grain hoppers. It was operated till \ 855. The picture shows the base- 
ment room. 



A Student's History of Illinois. Ill 



CHAPTER XX. 

ILLINOIS A STATE— THE ENABLING ACT. 

197. Services of Nathaniel Pope. — The second session of 
the third territorial legislature, convened December 1, 1817, 
and adjourned January 12, 1818. At this session a petition 
was formulated and forwarded to the delegate in congress, Mr. 
Nathaniel Pope, praying congress for the passage of an act 
which would permit the people of Illinois Territory to form a 
constitution and apply for admission into the union. 

Mr. Pope presented the petition on the 16th of January, 
1818, and it was referred to a committee of which he was a 
member. Mr. Pope being a representative of the people mak- 
ing the petition, the committee requested him to draw the bill 
for the enabling act. This he did and in due course of time 
the committee was ready to report. On April 7, 1818, the 
committee reported the bill which had been drawn. The re- 
port was now referred to the committee of the whole in which 
the bill was taken up April 13. Here in committee of the 
whole was revealed the most far-seeing statesmanship of Mr. 
Pope. To understand this matter fully it will be necessary 
for us to recall some provisions in the Ordinance of 1787. 

The fifth article of the Ordinance provided there should be 
made from the Northwest Territory not fewer than three nor 
more than five states ; and the boundary of the westernmost 
state should be the Mississippi, the Ohio and the Wabash riv- 
ers and a line due north from Yincennes to the boundary be- 
tween the Fnited States and Canada. The middle as well as 
the easternmost state should extend to the Canada line. Pro- 
vided, congress should have authority "to form one or two 
states in that part of the said territory which lies north of an 



172 A Student's History of Illinois. 

east and west line drawn through the southernly bend or ex- 
treme of Lake Michigan." 

The latitude of the extreme southerly end of Lake Michi- 
gan is 41 degrees and 39 minutes. In the bill which Mr. Pope 
first drew the northern boundary of Illinois was put at 41 de- 
grees and 39 minutes ; but between the time that the bill was 
referred to the committee of the whole on the 7th of April 
and the day set for its consideration in committee of the 
whole, Mr. Pope made a discovery. He saw that if 41 degrees 
39 minutes were made the northern boundary that the State 
when admitted would have no lake coast and would therefore 
be at a disadvantage in matters of trade and commerce on the 
lakes. So in the committee of the whole on the 13th of April, 
apparently without consulting anyone, Mr. Pope moved two 
amendments to the bill as formerly drawn by himself. One 
of these provided for the extension of the northern boundary 
from 41 degrees 39 minutes to 42 degrees and 30 minutes; the 
other provided for the application of three per cent of the sale 
of the public lands within the State of Illinois to the encour- 
agement of learning, and two per cent to be used by congress 
in building roads leading into the State. This latter amend- 
ment was a farseeing measure and was readily agreed to by 
everyone. The first one was probably not so popular and Mr. 
Pope was under the necessity of inventing argument to prove 
the wisdom of his amendment. 

First. He argued that in confederacies there was always 
the danger of secession. Illinois was so situated — the Mis- 
sissippi, Ohio, Wabash, Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee riv- 
ers so bound Illinois to the south that in case of secession that 
Illinois would go with the southern states. Illinois geographic- 
ally was needed to unify the commerce and trade of the region 
to the south and west of the Alleghanies. But if the line were 
pushed to the parallel of 42 degrees and 30 minutes, Illinois 
would have fifty or sixty miles of lake coast. And while the 
commerce of the lakes was unimportant now, the time would 



A Student's History of Illinois. 173 

come when the port of Chicago would be like turning the Mis- 
sissippi into the lake. And again if the northern line be made 
42 degrees 30 minutes, it would give a strip fifty miles wide 
and reaching from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi river. 
This strip of land would contain a population which would 
exert a very great influence in attaching the interests of Illi- 
nois to those of Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and New York. 

Second. The Mississippi ran unobstructed to the Gulf. 
The time would come when it would be very desirable that a 
water-way should be made connecting the Mississippi with 
Lake Michigan. The Illinois river presented the most feas- 
ible route and its head waters were in close proximity to the 
lake. If a canal were constructed connecting the lake with the 
Mississippi, through the Illinois river or by any other route, 
the State would be strongly attached to the lake route to the 
sea and much of the products of not only Illinois but of the 
adjacent states would find its way to the seaboard through the 
port of Chicago. 

Mr. Pope's earnestness and clearness of presentation were 
convincing and the committee of the whole voted to recom- 
mend the passage of the bill as amended. On the 18th of 
April the bill passed and became a law. It will be profitable if 
we will study briefly the provisions of this Enabling Act. 

198. The Enabling Act. — The act has seven sections. Let 
us examine each one. 

First. The people of the Territory of Illinois are author- 
ized to form a constitution, to assume any name they wish, 
and may be admitted into the union upon equal footing with 
the original states. 

Second. The boundary shall be as follows : "Beginning 
at the mouth of the Wabash river; thence up the same, and 
with the line of Indiana, to the northwest corner of said State ; 
thence east with the line of said State to the middle of Lake 
Michigan; thence north along the middle of said lake, to 
north latitude 42 degrees and 30 minutes ; thence west to the 



174 A Student's History of Illinois. 

middle of the Mississippi river; thence down along the mid- 
dle of that river to its confluence with the Ohio river; and 
thence up the latter river along its northwestern shore to the 
beginning." 

Third. This section states the qualifications of those who 
shall vote for members of the constitutional convention. It 
also names the fifteen counties which shall send representa- 
tives to the said convention as follows: Bond, Madison, St. 
Clair, Monroe, Randolph, Jackson, Johnson, Pope, Gallatin, 
White, Edwards, Crawford, Union, Washington, and Frank- 
lin. The election day was set for the first Monday in July (6) 
and the two following days. The number of delegates to the 
convention was fixed two for each county except Madison, St. 
Clair, and Gallatin, which should have three each — thirty- 
three in all. 

Fourth. The day for the meeting of the convention was 
fixed for the first Monday in August. The form of govern- 
ment must be Republican, and there must be 40,000 inhabi- 
tants hefore the territory can be admitted as a State. 

Fifth. The State when admitted shall be entitled to one 
representative in congress. 

Sixth. The following propositions were offered to the 
convention : 

1. Section number 16 in each township which shall be 
for the benefit of the schools of that township. 

2. The gift of all salt springs within the State together 
with the lands reserved for them. These salt springs and land 
to l)e held by the legislature for the benefit of the State. The 
lands could not be sold, nor rented for a longer period than 
ten years at any one time. 

3. The State was offered five per cent of the net proceeds 
of the sale of public lands within the State ; two per cent to 
be expended by congress in roads leading to the State and 
three per cent to be used by the state legislature in promoting 
learning. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 175 

4. The State was offered a township of land to be used to 
found a seminary of learning. 

These four propositions or gifts were to be accepted and an 
ordinance passed and a guarantee given that all land sold by 
the general government within the limits of the State should 
be exempt from taxation for five years and that non-resident 
land holders shall be taxed no higher than those who live in 
the State. 

Seventh. All territory north of the north line of Indiana 
and north of the north line of Illinois should be attached to 
the Michigan territory for purposes of government. 

199. Constitutional Convention. — As has been said, the 
Enabling Act became a law the 18th of April, 1818. The 
election of delegates to the constitutional convention was 
fixed for the first Monday in July, and the constitutional con- 
vention was to convene the first Monday in August. But the 
first thing to do was to take the census of the territory, and if 
it did not have the 40,000 then there would be no need for the 
convention. It was soon evident that the territory did not 
have the required number. Tlie story is told that the marshal 
stationed his enumerators on the public highways and counted 
the travellers and immigrants, regardless of their destination. 
Not only this, but it is asserted that often the same traveller 
or immigrant was counted twice or even thrice. At last the 
enumerators returned 40,000 inhabitants, but as the returns 
were afterward footed up there were really only 34,620 people 
in the proposed State. The delegates were duly elected and 
assembled at Ivaskaskia on the first Monday in August. There 
were two subjects which were discussed in the canvass for 
delegates to the convention ; one was the question of whether 
the constituency ought to have the right of instruction, and 
the other was the question of slavery. 

The following is a list of those who assembled as delegates : 

St. Clair county — Jesse B. Thomas, John Messenger, 
James Lemen, Jr. 



176 A Student's History of Illinois. 

Randolph — George Fisher, Elias Kent Kane. 

Madison — Benjamin Stephenson, Joseph Borough, Ab- 
raham Prickett. 

Gallatin — Michael Jones, Leonard White, Adolphns Fred- 
erick Hubbard. 

Johnson — Hezekiah West, Wm. McFatridge. 

Edwards — Seth Gard, Levi Compton. 

White — Willis Hargrave, Wm. McHenry. 

Monroe — Caldwell Cams, Enoch Moore. 

Pope — Samuel O'Melveny, Hamlet Ferguson. 

Jackson — Conrad Will, James Hall, Jr. 

Crawford — Joseph Kitchell, Edward N. Cullom. 

Bond — Thomas Kirkpatrick, Samuel J. Morse. 

Union — Wm. Eckols, John Whittaker. 

Washington — Andrew Bankson (other delegate died dur- 
ing convention). 

Franklin — Isham Harrison, Thomas Roberts. 

The convention met iUigust 3, 1818, and finished its labors 
and adjourned August 26. Jesse B. Thomas from St. Clair 
county was elected chairman, and Wm. C. Greenup was made 
secretary. Up to within the past year no one knew of a copy 
of the proceedings of the convention, but a copy has been 
found and is in the possession of the Illinois State Historical 
Library. 

The constitution was not submitted to the people for rati- 
fication and the only officers which the people might elect 
were : Governor, lieutenant governor, members of the general 
assembly, sheriffs, and coroners. The offices which were filled 
by appointment of either the governor or the general assem- 
bly were : Judges of the supreme, circuit and probate courts ; 
prosecuting attorney, county clerk, circuit clerk, recorder, jus- 
tice of the peace, auditor of public accounts, attorney general, 
secretary of state. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 177 

200. The Constitution of 1818.— Before taking up the 
elections under the constitution, let us make a brief study of 
the document. 

Article one provides that all governmental power shall be 
exercised through three departments, namely: The legisla- 
tive, the executive, the judicial. 

Article two vests the legislative authority in a general as- 
sembly which shall consist of a senate and a house of repre- 
sentatives. It also fixes qualifications of members of the two 
houses, states the modes by which bills may become laws. Sec- 
tion 27 reads — "In all elections all white male inhabitants 
above the age of twenty-one years, having resided in the State 
six months next preceding the election, shall enjoy the right 
of an elector; but no person shall be entitled to vote except 
in the county or district in which he shall actually reside at 
the time of the election/' 

Article three vests the executive authority in a governor 
and other officers and defines their duties. 

Article four locates the judicial power in one supreme court 
and in such inferior courts as the legislature may from time 
to time ordain and establish. 

Article five creates and organizes the militia. 

Article six has three sections which are as follows : 

Section 1. Neither slavery or involuntary servitude shall 
hereafter be introduced into this State, otherwise than for the 
punishment of crimes, whereof the party shall have been duly 
convicted; nor shall any male person, arrived at the age of 
twenty-one years, nor female person arrived at the age of 
eighteen years, be held to serve any person as a servant, under 
any indenture hereafter made, unless such person shall enter 
into such indenture while in a state of perfect freedom, and 
on condition of a bona fide consideration received or to be re- 
ceived for their service. Nor shall any indenture of any negro 
or mulatto, hereafter made and executed out of this State, or 
if made in this State, where the term of service exceeds one 



178 A Student's History of Illinois. 

year, be of the least validity, except those given in cases of 
apprenticeship. 

Section 2. No person bound to labor in any other state, 
shall be hired to labor in this State, except within the tract re- 
served for the salt works near Shawneetown ; nor even at that 
place for a longer period than one year at any one time; nor 
shall it be allowed there after the year 1825. Any violation of 
this article shall effect the emancipation of such person from 
his obligation to service. 

Section 3. Each and every person who has been bound 
to service by contract or indenture in virtue of the laws of 
Illinois Territory heretofore existing, and in conformity to 
the provisons of the same, without fraud or collusion, shall be 
held to a specific performance of their contracts or indentures ; 
and such negroes and mulattoes as have been registered in con- 
formity with the aforesaid laws, shall serve out the time ap- 
pointed by said laws; Provided, however, that the children 
hereafter born of such persons, negroes or mulattoes, shall 
become free, the males at the age of twenty-one years, the fe- 
males at the age of eighteen years. Children born of inden- 
tured parents shall be entered with the clerk of the county in 
which they reside, by their owners, within six months after 
the birth of said child. 

Notice the wording in section one — "shall hereafter be 
introduced into this State." Such a guarantee was necessary 
in order that the State might be admitted into the union. The 
consent of the negro was always necessary to a contract of in- 
denture, and this was hereafter to be interpreted as "a state 
of perfect freedom." Again indentures were of validity for 
only one year. It came to be customary for the man who had 
indentured slaves to take them across the Ohio and have them 
indentured yearly. 

Section two provides that slaves "hired" in slave states 
could be brought into the salt works at Shawneetown and held 



A Student's History of Illinois. 179 

lor one year. At the end of one year they could be hired 
again. But all this must stop by the year 1825. 

Section 3. All negroes who were, at the making of the 
constitution, under an "indenture" must faithfully fulfill that 
contract. And children born of indentured parents were to be 
eventually free. 

The constitution in no way effected the slaves held by the 
French and their descendants. These provisions will be noted 
later as we have occasion to consider the laws passed by the 
legislatures of the coming years. Upon the whole the entire 
system of slavery and indentured service remained practically 
the same as under the territorial laws. 

Article seven provides for the amending of the constitu- 
tion. 

Article eight contains a bill of rights. The bill contains 
twenty-three sections and covers all imaginable claims to pro- 
tection which the individual might ever need. 

The schedule is a miscellaneous collection of provisions 
which could not easily be classified elsewhere. 

201. The First Election.— The day fixed by the constitu- 
tion for the election of the officers provided for, was the third 
Thursday (the 17th) in September and the two succeeding 
days — Friday and Saturday. 

At this election Shadrach Bond was chosen governor; 
Pierre Menard was elected lieutenant governor, and John Mc- 
Lean was elected the representative in congress. There were 
also elected fourteen senators and twenty-nine representatives. 

The legislature was called to meet at Kaskaskia the first 
Monday in October (the 5th). The first thing for this legis- 
lature was the canvass of the votes, and on Tuesday (the 6th) 
Governor Bond was inaugurated. The legislature proceeded 
to the election of two United States senators. The choice fell 
upon Mnian Edwards and Jesse B. Thomas. The legisla- 
ture chose the following State officers : State treasurer, John 
Thomas; auditor, Elijah C. Berry; attorney general, Daniel 



180 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



P. Clark; supreme judges, Joseph Phillips, chief justice, 
Wm. P. Foster, Thomas C. Brown, and John Reynolds. The 
Governor appointed Elias Kent Kane as secretary of state. 




Old State House in Kaskaskia. The State probably never owned a 
capitol building in Kaskaskia, but rented rooms for use of the Ter- 
ritorial and State legislatures. Mr. Gustavus Pape, now living in 
Chester, came to Kaskaskia in 1 832, and he says the above build- 
ing was known as the Old State House. It recently fell into the 
river. 



All this was done on the supposition that congress would 
accept the constitution and admit the State. However, the 
legislature adjourned on the 13th of October to await the ac- 
tion of congress. Mr. McLean, the newly elected congressman, 
was permitted to present the constitution but was not himself 
sworn in, as was said, "in consequence of congress not having 
concluded the act of admission of the State into the union." 

A spirited opposition to the acceptance of the constitution 
arose on the ground that the constitution did not declare 
against slavery. The matter of its acceptance was referred 
to a committee of three — Richard Anderson, of Kentucky, 
George Poindexter and Wm. Hendricks. This committee re- 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



181 



ported in favor of admitting the State. James Talmadge at- 
tacked the report, arguing that the constitution was very in- 
definite with regard to slavery. It neither prohibited slavery 
nor admitted it. He also opposed its admission on the 
ground that there was no evidence that there were 40,000 peo- 
ple within the limits of the State. Mr. Harrison and Mr. 
Poindexter made spirited replies and upon the vote it was ad- 
mitted by 117 to 34. On the 3rd of December the senate con- 
curred and the President signed the bill the 4th. The senators 
and congressmen were sworn in, and Illinois was a full fledged 
sovereign State. 




Memorial Tablet Marking the site of Old Fort Dearborn, 



182 



A Student's History of Illinois. 




GOVERNOR SHADRACH BOND. 

J8J8— J822. 



CHAPTER XXI. 



ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BOND — ORGANIZING 
THE STATE GOVERNMENT. 

202. The First Governor. — Shadraeh Bond, the first gov- 
ernor of Illinois as a State, was a native of Maryland, having 
been born in that state November 24, 1778. He was brought 
np on a farm. His education was limited. He came with 
his father to Illinois in 1794, and settled near New Design, 
in what is now Monroe county. Mr. Bond served in the legis- 
lature of the Indiana Territory and in congress, and was for 
awhile receiver of public moneys at Kaskaskia. He was the 



A Student's History of Illinois. 183 

only candidate for Governor in 1818. He favored making 
Illinois a slave State. Governor Bond ran for congress after 
serving as the chief executive, but was defeated by Daniel P. 
Cook. He died in 1832. 

203. Extra Session of the Legislature. — When the legis- 
lature adjourned at Kaskaskia on October 13, 1818, to await 
the action of congress, the new Governor was requested to call 
the legislature in extra session, as soon as he received word of 
the State's admission into the union. Governor Bond there- 
fore convened the legislature in extra session on the 4th day 
of January, 1819. It was in session till March 31, 1819. This 
was a very important session as the laws of the State must be 
put in force, and the machinery of government set in motion. 

The work of the legislature in the spring of 1819 was along 
four lines, as follows : 

1. The adoption of a code of laws taken largely from the 
laws of the neighboring states. 

2. The revenue laws were enacted by means of which the 
taxes were to be raised. 

3. Salaries of State officers were fixed. 

4. The passing of a law providing for the removal of the 
State capital. 

204. The Black Code. — The "code" as it- is usually spoken 
of according to Ford, was taken from the laws of Virginia and 
Kentucky. The most important part of this code was "An 
act respecting free negroes and mulattoes, servants, and 
slaves." The act contained twenty-five sections and was the 
basis of what was known in Illinois history as the "Black 
Code." This act provided that free negroes and mulattoes 
coming into the State must bring a certificate of freedom 
which must be recorded in the clerk's office. Negroes and 
mulattoes who failed to comply with the law would be removed 
by the overseers of the poor of the county. 

It was against the law to bring in slaves for the purpose 
of freeing them; however, one might do so if he would give 



184 A Student's History of Illinois. 

$1,000 bond for each slave's good behavior. For failure to 
comply with this provision a fine of $200 could be assessed. 

Free negroes in the State, upon passage of the act, must 
file with the clerk a description of themselves with evidence 
of freedom. They were then given a certificate of their free- 
dom. Persons hiring negroes without these certificates were 
finable at the rate of $1.50 per day for the offense. 

Harboring or preventing his capture by his owner was a 
felony. 

Free negroes without certificates of freedom might be ar- 
rested and upon being advertised might be sold for one year. 

Kidnapping slaves or servants was finable to the amount 
of $1,000. The money was to be paid to the injured party. 

Masters were required by law to provide suitable food and 
clothing for their servants or slaves. The servants or slaves 
could be whipped for laziness. A free negro could own or hold 
by indenture another negro but not a white person. Slaves 
and servants could not enter into any business transaction. In 
cases for which a white man would be fined in money, the 
slave or servant could be whipped at the rate of twenty lashes 
for each $8 of the fine — but never more than forty lashes at 
any one time. If found ten miles from home, the servant 
could be taken before a justice and whipped with twenty-five 
lashes. Slaves and servants were not allowed to assemble for 
carousals or dancing, and any person who permitted it on his 
place was subject to a fine of $10. 

205. Revenues. — The second group of laws mentioned 
above provided for the raising of the money with which the 
government of the State was to be carried on. The tax on 
lands of resident owners was used for county purposes to- 
gether with the tax levied on personal property. The State 
tax was raised upon lands owned by non-residents. These 
lands were classified and were valued at two, three, and four 
dollars per acre. In 1836 the total amount of land subject 



A Student's History of Illinois. 185 

to taxation was nearly 6,000,000 of acres. In 1824 the State 
revenue was about $25,000. 

The third group of laws provided for the salaries of the 
officers. The following were the salaries according to Peck's 
Gazetteer, published in 1837: Governor, $1,000; lieutenant 
governor, $6 per day during the session of the legislature ; sec- 
retary of state $1,100, and $300 for clerk hire; auditor, $800; 
treasurer, $800; adjutant general, $100; supreme judges, 
$800; circuit judges, $750 ; attorney general, $350 and fees; 
six State's attorneys $250 each and fees; agent for saline 
lands, $200, etc. Nearly all the county officers received no set 
salaries, but were content to serve for the fees which came into 
the offices. 

206. Removal of the Capital. — Among the laws passed was 
one which provided for the removal of the capital of the State 
from Kaskaskia. Section 13 of the schedule attached to the 
constitution, provided for the removal of the capital at any 
time the general assembly so determined. It also provided 
that at the first session of the legislature held under the con- 
stitution that body should petition congress for a gift of not 
more than four sections of land nor less than one section upon 
which the new capital city should be located. The said land 
should be located on the Kaskaskia river, and as nearly as 
might be, east of the third principal meridian. If this request 
should be complied with by congress, the legislature at its next 
session thereafter should create a commission of five to locate 
this land and construct a new capitol. 

207. The Gift From Congress. — Congress was very willing 
to make the gift, which it did on March 3, 1819, and the com- 
mission proceeded to locate the new capital. The new city was 
located about three miles south of where the 38th degree of 
north latitude crosses the Kaskaskia river. It was in the 
midst of a forest with a good spring near. There were large 
areas of excellent farming land in that vicinity. 



186 A Student's History of Illinois. 

"The plan of the town is a square, subdivided into sixty- 
four squares, and a space of two of these squares in the middle 
is intended for public use. Every square, having eight build- 
ing lots, contains 320 square rods; each building lot is 80 feet 
wide and 152 feet deep. Each square is cut from south to 
north by a 16-foot alley; and the large regular and straight 
streets, 80 feet wide, intersect each other at right angles." 

The plan adopted by the five commissioners was to offer 
lots for sale at public auction. Mr. Ferdinand Ernst, 
who was a German traveller through Illinois in the year 1819, 
was the first man to begin a house in the new capital city. The 
above mentioned traveller, Mr. Ernst, in his diary dated Van- 
dalia, September 10, 1819, says: "Only four weeks ago the 
commissioners advertised the sale of these lots (it will take 
place tomorrow) and there is already considerable activity 
manifested. Charles Beavise and I were the first who began 
to build." From this it will be seen that the people began to 
build before the sale of the lots was held. Mr. Ernst, under 
date of September 26, 1819, says: "When the lots in Vandalia 
were sold, I purchased four of them and after I had made the 
necessary arrangements for the completion of my house, I set 
about preparing for my return to Europe." When the auction 
sale came off, some of these lots brought as much as $780, and 
the lowest price was $100. But the lots were sold on credit 
and only about $35,234, was realized from the sale. 

208. The New Capitol. — The commissioners w r ere author- 
ized to construct a temporary capitol, which they did by build- 
ing a two-story frame building. Sidney Breese. a young man 
of twenty years, and a personal friend of E. K. Kane, the sec- 
retary of state, and a clerk in his office, moved the records 
from Kaskaskia to Vandalia in December. 1820, and they were 
placed in a little room in the second story which served as the 
office of the secretary of state. Sidney Breese received for 
this labor of moving the records the sum of $25. It is said 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



187 



that it was necessary to open a wagon road in many places in 
the moving of the records. 




Capitol at Vandalia. The first capital at Vandalia was a small wooden structure two 
stories high. It burned December 9, 1823, and another building was erected at a 
cost of about $15,000. This was torn down in 1836 and the above building 
erected. It now serves Fayette county as a county court house. 



209. The Second General Assembly. — The members of the 
second general assembly were elected at the regular election 
held in August in 1820. It met in the new capital city, in a 
two-story wooden building, December 4, 1820. The new city 
was in its swaddling clothes. There were few residences as yet 
and everything savored of the wilderness. The city was lo- 
cated on Eeeves' Blurt, on the west bank of the Kaskaskia 
river, in township 6, north, and range 1, east of the third 
principal meridian. The site was high and undulating and 



188 A Student's History of Illinois. 

was heavily timbered. The streets were eighty feet wide and 
crossed each other at right angles. 

Upon the convening of the general assembly, the gover- 
nor delivered a very brief message. He favored the erection 
of public buildings at the capital, and the making of other 
improvements, among which was the founding of a seminary. 
He desired to have the gaming laws revised and stated with 
pride that the territorial debt had been extinguished. 

210. Hard Times. — The times were very hard. Prices 
were very low, and money extremely scarce. A cow and calf 
would bring not over $5. Wheat was 35 cents per bushel ; 
corn was as low as 10 cents per bushel. There was no specie 
in the country. The banks of Ohio and Kentucky had failed, 
so also had the bank in St. Louis, and those in Illinois under 
the law of 1816. Most of the immigrants were poor, there 
was no commerce to bring money into the State, and ruin 
stared every one in the face. 

211. State Bank. — Under these circumstances the people 
naturally looked to the legislature to remedy the evils of the 
time. And so it happened that the finance question was the 
absorbing question before the legislature. A bill was intro- 
duced to create the State Bank. This bank was to have a 
capital of $500,000. The board of directors to manage this 
large financial venture was composed of a body of men — one 
from each county — selected by the legislature. There was to 
be a sort of parent bank at Vandalia, with branch banks at 
Edwardsville, Brownsville (in Jackson county), Shawneetown, 
and at. (Albion) the county seat of Edwards county. There 
was not a dollar of capital for this bank, the State simply 
pledged its credit and honor for the redemption of the circu- 
lation. 

When the bill came up for discussion there was vigorous 
opposition to its passage. There were men in the legislature 
who knew very well that the day of reckoning would come 
sooner or later. John McLean was the speaker of the house 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



189 



and in order that he might take part in the discussion he re- 
signed as speaker and took his place on the floor and earnestly 
plead with the members not to pass the bill ; but in spite of 
all that could be done by the opponents of the bill it passed 
both house and senate. The bill then went before the council 
of revision. This body consisted of the governor, and su- 
preme judges, Phillips, Keynolds, Wilson, and Brown. The 
governor and Judges Phillips and Keynolds voted to disap- 
prove of the measure. The other two judges favored the bill. 
It therefore was returned to the general assembly which now 




Edwardsville Bank Bill. This bill bears date 1821, and was issued to the 

grandfather of Miss Anna Cameron of Upper Alton, 

who kindly loaned it to the author. 



much excited and probably irritated, passed the measure over 
the veto of the council of revision. The bill thus became a 
law and the legislature proceeded to its organization. 

The .charter provided that of the capital of $500,000, 
$300,000 should be issued in bills of one, two, three, five, ten, 
and twenty dollar notes. These notes bore 2 per cent interest 
annually, the bills being redeemable by the State at the end 
of ten years. The printing presses were set in motion and in 
a few weeks at most the country was afloat with "wild cat" 
money. The law provided that this ready-made money might 
be loaned to the people in quantities not exceeding $100, on 



190 A Student's History of Illinois. 

personal security. It also provided that it might be loaned in 
$1,000 lots, provided the borrower gave real estate security. 

212. Legal Tender. — The legislature also provided that 
unless an execution creditor wrote across the face of the exe- 
cution, "the bills of the State Bank of Illinois, or either of 
the branches, will be received in discharge of this execution," 
the defendant was entitled to a stay of the collection for three 
years. This forced the creditor to accept the bills of the bank 
as a legal tender. In a short time the entire $300,000 had 
been loaned at the several banks. The money was made re- 
ceivable for all taxes and dues to the State. The representa- 
tives and senators in congress were requested to use all their 
influence to have the government accept these bills at the land- 
offices. 

213. Depreciation. — The bills fell rapidly in value till 
they were worth not more than twenty-five cents on the dollar. 
Good money such as gold, silver, and United States Bank 
notes disappeared, and only the worthless State Bank bills 
remained. The annual expenditures of the State government 
were about $30,000. This also was the amount of the income 
from the taxes into the State treasury, but the law provided 
that the taxes might be paid in State Bank issues. A dollar 
in silver would buy $3 in State Bank bills, so that a man 
whose taxes were $60 might pay them with $20 or less in gold 
or silver by exchanging his gold or silver for State Bank bills 
and then tendering them for his tax receipt. 

The legislature was again equal to the emergency for a 
law was passed to pay all State officers in State Bank bills at 
the current value. So the members of the general assembly 
received $9 per day for their services. 

Many people who borrowed money from the bank never 
paid it. Ford in his history of Illinois thinks the State lost 
$100,000 in unpaid loans and $150,000 in receiving depre- 
ciated currency in taxes, and $150,000 in payments to State 
officers. This would make a net loss of $400,000 which was 



A Student's History of Illinois. 191 

four-fifths of the original capital. The bank dragged out its 
miserable existence in 1831 and the people drew a long, deep 
sigh of relief. 

214. Other Legislation. — Outside of the financial legisla- 
tion, the work of this session is not very important. Officers 
and directors of the bank were chosen by the legislature, the 
senate and house quarreled between themselves, and the coun- 
ties of Greene, Fayette, Montgomery, Lawrence, Hamilton, 
Sangamon, and Pike were organized. Pike county included 
all the territory west of the Illinois river and also what is now 
Cook county. It is quite interesting to pick up an old book of 
travels which describes Chicago as a village on the Chicago 
river in Pike county, Illinois. 

215. Price of Land Reduced. — A part of the distress of the 
times came from the indebtedness of the people for their 
lands. In 1800 when the lands were put upon the market in 
smaller quantities, the price was fixed at $2 per acre. One- 
fourth of this amount or fifty cents per acre, must be paid in 
cash, and on the other three-fourths, a credit of several years 
was given, or if the purchaser preferred he could pay all cash 
at once in which case the price was $1.6-1 per acre. Most peo- 
ple preferred to buy on time and such people were careless 
about making the deferred payments. The government be- 
came lenient and few ever suffered for their negligence in 
making their final payments. By 1820 there was supposed to 
be owing to the general government more than $20,000,000 
for lands bought on credit. Congress was memorialized to 
bring some sort of relief to the people. Senator Richard M. 
Johnson of Kentucky introduced a bill which was enacted into 
law providing that those indebted to the government for 
lands might relinquish enough land to pay the debt and thus 
receive a clear title to the rest of the land. The law also pro- 
vided that hereafter the price of government land should be 
$1.25 per acre — cash. 

216. Military Tract.— Shortly after the war of 1812, con- 
gress set aside in the Territory of Illinois, what afterwards 



192 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



came to be called the "Illinois Military Tract/' for the pay- 
ment of the soldiers of the war of 1812. This bounty land 
as it is frequently called, lay west of the Illinois river and 
was bounded on the west by the Mississippi,, and extended 169 
miles north of the mouth of the Illinois river. For a few 
years after the close of the war immigration to this region 
was quite active, but by 1820 and for a year or so later very 
few settlers came. It is said that the titles to the land did 
not long remain in the hands of the soldiers, but that they 
were soon held by speculators. 




First Consolidated School Building in Illinois. It is located at Seward, 

Winnebago County, and is the result of the efforts 

of County Superintendent O, J, Kern. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 193 



CHAPTER XXII. 

THE ENGLISH PRAIRIE SETTLEMENT. 

217. Growth of the West. — Reference has already been 
made to the conditions of this country at the close of the war 
of 1812. Everything favored immigration. The Indians 
were gradually becoming reconciled to the presence of the 
whites. They ceded large tracts of land to the United States, 
and the government was taking steps to have those lands set- 
tled as rapidly as possible. Lands in the west were being rap- 
idly surveyed, towns were springing up, and offices were es- 
tablished, steam navigation on the western rivers was reduc- 
ing the time and danger of the journey to the west, and at the 
same time increasing the comforts of travel. The government 
offered land at two dollars an acre with the privilege of pay- 
ing one-fourth cash and three-fourths on time. Many travel- 
lers through the west, upon returning to New England and to 
the middle and southern states, gave flattering reports upon 
the richness of the soil, abundance of game, and the superior- 
ity of the climate. 

218. Changed Conditions. — In the older states to the east 
of the Alleghanies, the war produced many conditions which 
favored the movement of immigration into the west. New 
England had previous to the war been a commercial section. 
They built ships and engaged in the carrying trade. Manu- 
facture was not then regarded as a line of industry. The em- 
bargo, the non-intercourse act, and the war made the New 
Englanders a manufacturing people. When the war was over, 
men could not easily adjust themselves to the new conditions. 
Wages were low, work was scarce, and business deranged. Un- 
der these conditions people were easily persuaded to cast their 



194 A Student's History of Illinois. 

lot in the rising west. The route of travel for the New Eng- 
landers was usually up the Mohawk Valley, by Oswego, up 
Lake Ontario, over the Niagara Portage, down the Alleghany 
river to Pittsburg, and thence down the Ohio. Another route 
for the Chesapeake region was up the Potomac, across the 
mountains to Wheeling, and thence down the Ohio. For the 
people of the Carolinas the route lay across the mountains 
into the upper valleys of the Cumberland and Tennessee riv- 
ers and thence to southern Indiana, southern Illinois or to 
Missouri. 

219. Conditions in England. — Not only was there a large 
immigration from the Atlantic states into the newer western 
states, but from the close of the Napoleonic wars in Europe, 
there was a steady stream of immigration from England to 
this country. In 1815 England's debt had reached the enor- 
mous sum of £831,000,000, specie payments were suspended, 
and the paper money was rapidly depreciating. Prices were 
soaring upwards, the harvests were bad, and legislation was 
against the poor. The "Corn laws" were passed in 1815 which 
provided that no corn (grain) should be imported until the 
price should reach 80s per quarter. In case one's income from 
his labor would not support him, he must be supported from 
the "poor rates." Thousands of soldiers and sailors who had 
helped to win England's victories in the past fifteen or twenty 
years, were then without employment. Of 614 ships in Eng- 
land's navy 530 went out of service. The use of machinery 
was another cause of idleness everywhere, and riots were the 
order of the day. There was great need of reform in the 
political world. Some boroughs with not more than a half 
dozen voters would send two representatives to Parliament. 
Some great cities like Manchester and Birmingham were with- 
out representation in Parliament. 

220. William Cobbett. — Many prominent Englishmen at- 
tempted to right the wrongs. Among those Avho were strug- 
gling to better the conditions in England at this time was one 



A Student's History of Illinois. 195 

William Cobbett, the publisher of a vigorous little newspaper 
called the "Political Register/' In addition to publishing the 
Register, he was a pamphlet-writer and for his strong de- 
nunciation of the wrongs perpetrated on his fellow country- 
men, he was arrested, fined, and imprisoned. At the end of 
two years he was released upon bail and came to America and 
settled on Long Island. While here in 1818 he wrote a pam- 
phlet or book, descriptive of this country, dedicated to his 
friend Timothy Brown, Esq., of Peckham Lodge, Surrey. In 
the dedication he says : This book "I dedicate to you in testi- 
mony of my consistent remembrance of the many, many 
happy hours I have spent with you, and of the numerous acts 
of kindness which I have received at your hands. You were 
one of those who sought acquaintance with me, when I was 
shut up in a felon's jail for having expressed my indignation 
at seeing Englishmen flogged in the heart of England, under 
a guard of bayonets and sabres, and when I had on my head a 
thousand pounds fine and seven years' recognizances. You 
at the end of two years took me from the prison, in your car- 
riage, to your house, you and your kind friend Walker, are 
even yet held in bonds for my good behaviour, the seven years 
not being expired/' 

This Mr. Cobbett lived on Long Island, and in 1818 was 
engaged in the culture of rutabagas. It seems, also, that Mr. 
Cobbett was very busily engaged in trying to prevent English- 
men who arrived in Boston, N"ew York, Baltimore, and other 
ports, from coming into the western country. Just what his 
motives were we may not know, but it has been surmised that 
he was in the employment of speculators and others who were 
interested in keeping the immigrants, those from England as 
well as those who were leaving the Atlantic coast, from com- 
ing into this western country. In the preface of the book 
above referred to, he says : "Yet it was desirable to make an 
attempt, at least, towards settling the question, whether the 



196 A Student's History of Illinois. 

Atlantic or the western countries were the best for English 
Farmers to settle in." 

221. Emigration From England. — In 1816 to 1817 sev- 
eral men of prominence in England agitated the idea of com- 
ing to America. It was just while this stir was going on in 
England that Edward Coles, embassador from the President, 
James Madison, to the Czar of Russia, while on his return 
trip, spent several weeks in England (probably in the spring 
of 1817). There he met Morris Birkbeck then a man fifty- 
four years of age. He was at that time the lessee of a large 
estate called Wanborough near London. He was greatly in- 
terested in Mr. Cole's description of the prairies in this west- 
ern country. He and George Flower, who was also a man of 
culture and means, determined upon the planting of a colony 
in the broad prairies of Illinois. Mr. Birkbeck sold out his 
lease for $55,000 and sailed from London April. 1817. George 
Flower had preceded Birkbeck the previous year (1816), and 
had visited the western prairies, and returned to Virginia 
where he passed the winter of 1816 to 1817. During this win- 
ter he was much in company with Thomas Jefferson to whom 
he had letters of introduction from La Fayette. When Birk- 
beck landed at Norfolk, Virginia, in the month of June, 1817, 
his friend, George Flower, joined him and they proceeded 
west to the Illinois country by way of the Ohio river, and 
Vincennes. From here they went into the prairie afterwards 
called English Prairie. These two Englishmen each planted 
a colony. Birkbeck called his settlement Wanborough after 
his old home in England ; Mr. Flower called his Albion, 
which is an old name for England. The former settlement 
was about two miles west of Albion. 

222. The English. Prairie. — These settlements came to be 
known as the "English Prairie Settlements" and were visited 
by all the travellers whether seeking homes in the new State 
or as mere passers-by viewing the new country. It also bore 
the name of "The Marine Settlement" on account of the fact 



A Student's History of Illinois. 197 

that many of the settlers in that locality were once mariners. 

Birkbeck bought 16,000 acres of land in the immediate 
locality of Albion, and hoped to sell a large portion of it to 
actual settlers. Mr. Birkbeck was a highly educated gentle- 
man and yet was not afraid of manual labor. Mr. Flower 
settled what afterward came to be Albion though he himself 
lived a mile or so distant at what was called "Park House," 
a country seat after the style of the English country resi- 
dences. 

George Flower returned to England in 1817 or 1818 and 
brought to this new English settlement his father Richard 
Flower, his mother, his sisters and two brothers. His family 
reached Lexington, Ky., in the late fall or early winter and 
remained here till the next June, 1819. 

When Mr. George Flower left the English settlement to 
return to England for his father and other members of the 
family, it was understood that Mr. Birkbeck would purchase 
land for Mr. George Flower and have a residence by the time 
he should return. In June, 1819, when George Flower landed 
at Shawneetown the entire family walked to Albion, a distance 
of forty-five miles, and upon arriving at Albion found no 
house of any kind in which they might live. It seems that an 
estrangement had grown up between Mr. George Flower and 
Mr. Birkbeck which was the occasion of there being two set- 
tlements, Albion and Wanborough. 

223. Richard Flower. — While living at Lexington the 
father, Richard Flower, wrote to friends in England in an- 
swer to certain questions in which these people were interested. 
In speaking of slavery he says: "It is this that keeps the 
wealth of Europe from pouring its treasures into the fertile 
region of Kentucky and the industry of thousands from ap- 
proaching the State. It would be painful to relate all the 
horrors I have beheld in slavery under its mildest forms. 
Whites, full of whiskey, flogging their slaves for drinking even 
a single glass. Women, . . . . , smarting under the angry blow, 



198 A Student's History of Illinois. 

or the lash, .... lacking -food in the midst of abundance, and 
clothing insufficient to satisfy the demands of even common 
decency." 

224. The New Home. — On August 16, 1819, the same gen- 
tleman writing from "Illinois, near Albion," describes the new 
home. He speaks particularly of the improved state of health 
of all the people of the settlement. He urges immigration to 
the western prairies rather than to stop on the Atlantic shores. 
The prairies were easily broken and the grazing was abund- 
ant. Servants were scarce on account of the ease with which 
young women found husbands. Female help commanded 
from eight to ten dollars per month. On the English Prairie 
which stretched from the Little Wabash eastward to the Bon- 
pas creek, a distance of sixteen miles, and extending north and 
south four miles, there were sixty English families and about 
150 American families. Counting five persons to each family 
we have 1,050 inhabitants of the English Prairie in 1819. 
"As to the reward of his indtsury, every farmer who conducted 
a farm in England, may here become the proprietor of his 
own soil with that capital which affords him only a tenant's 
station, a precarious subsistence in his own country ; an in- 
ducement, I should, think, sufficient to make thousands follow 
our steps, and taste the blessings of independence and the 
sweets of liberty." On the subject of slavery Mr. Flower 
speaks with the earnestness of a Phillips, a Garrison, or a 
Giddings. "One human being the property of another! 
No!. . . .1 rejoice, my dear friend, in the choice the English 
have made of a free state ; and am certain we shall be able to 
cultivate from the services of free men, cheaper than those 
who cultivate by slaves." In this same letter Mr. Flower says 
"the log cabins, the receptacles of the insect tribe are no lon- 
ger erected. I have had the pleasure of laying the first 
brick foundation in Albion ; it is to be an inn where travel- 
lers, I hope, may find rest without disturbance from insects. 
We have also nearly completed our market house which is 



A Student's History of Illinois. 199 

sixty feet by thirty. A place of worship is begun/' Services 
were held each Lord's day by some member of the colony. It 
was the intention which was afterward carried out to estab- 
lish a reading room in the church building which should be 
open on Sunday afternoon. 

225. Current Prices. — The following is a list of prices pre- 
vailing in Albion in 1819: A fine turkey, 25c; fowls (chick- 
ens), 12c; beef, 5c; eggs, 12 Jc; cheese, 30c; butter (scarce), 
16c; bacon, 15c; flour, $9 per bbl. ; deer (whole carcass in- 
cluding skin), $1.50; melons, 12^c; honey, $1 per gal.; 
whiskey, $1 per gal. ; fine Hyson tea, $2 per lb. ; moist su- 
gar, 31c; coffee, 62c; fish, 3c. 

On January 18, 1820, Mr. Eichard Flower writes again to 
friends in England. He speaks of the drouth of the preced- 
ing autumn and says they have few wells and are obliged to 
buy water at 25c a barrel, brought from a neighboring spring. 
Farm laborers are scarce. For Christmas dinner they had a 
company of thirty-two at Park House, the Flower homestead. 
They danced to the music of instrument and song. The Sun- 
day service was attended by forty or fifty persons, and in the 
afternoon the library and reading rooms were quite well pa- 
tronized. 

Mr. Birkbeck, whose residence was a couple of miles west 
of Albion, at Wanborough, was also busily engaged in opening 
up Ids lands and providing for the comfort and advancement 
of those who might settle near him. 

226. Mr. Hulme. — This settlement was visited by a Mr. 
Hulme, an Englishman, in 1818-19, the next year after the 
founding. Birkbeck was then living in a log cabin with his 
two sons and two daughters. The cabin cost $20. He was 
beginning a more pretentious home near the cabin. Mr. 
Birkbeck had about him no settlers except his own laborers 
and some American neighbors who had settled near his lands. 
Mr. Birkbeck, at the time, had no land in cultivation except 
for garden purposes. He had occupied his time since arriv- 



200 A Student's History of Illinois. 

ing in building houses, barns, mills, fences, etc. His fences 
Mr. Hulme describes as follows : "He makes a ditch four feet 
wide at the top, sloping to one foot wide at the bottom, and 
four feet deep. With the earth that comes out of the ditch he 
makes a bank on one side, which is turfed toward the ditch. 
Then a long pole is put up from the bottom of the ditch to 
two feet about the bank ; this is crossed by a short pole from 
the other side, then a rail is laid along between the forks." 

227. Mr. Woods. — Two years later Mr. John Woods, an 
Englishman, seeking a suitable home in the new country vis- 
ited both Albion and Wanborough. Of the latter place he 
says there was a store or two, twenty-five cabins, a tavern, sev- 
eral lodging houses, several carpenters, bricklayers, brickmak- 
ers, blacksmiths, wheelwrights, sawyers, a tailor and a butcher, 
At this time also they were building an oxmill (tread mill), a 
malt houses, a new brick tavern, and several new houses. They 
were also digging wells. Mr. Birkbeck had by this time fin- 
ished his frame house. Wanborough was just in the edge of a 
small woods. The town was laid out in blocks by streets run- 
ning east and west and north and south. 

Albion, two miles east of Wanborough, had at this time, 
1820, twenty cabins, a place of worship, a market house, two 
taverns, two stores, a surgeon, carpenters, brick-makers, brick- 
layers, wheelwrights, blacksmiths, sawyers, a shoe maker, and 
several wells. 

Four miles east of Albion was the Bonpas bridge across 
the Bonpas creek. At this point was a water sawmill, a tav- 
ern, and a store with a few cabins. The mill was owned by 
Messrs. Le Serre and Grutt, lately from the Channel islands. 

Mr. Woods settled in Wanborough and owned farms in the 
neighborhood. In speaking of stock running at large, he says : 
"Beasts, sheep, and pigs are all marked in their ears, by cut- 
ting and notching them in all possible directions and forms, 
to the great disfigurement of some of them; yet these marks 
are absolutely necessary in this wild country where every per- 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



201 



son's stock runs at large ; and they are not sometimes seen by 
their owners for several months, so that without some lasting 
mark it would be utterly impossible to know them again. Most 
people enter their marks with the clerk of the county in which 
they reside, .... The county clerk's fee for entering a mark is 
twelve and a half cents/' 

228. Character. — These English settlers were a very 
thrifty people and the population grew rapidly. In the vote 
for or against the slave proposition in 1821 there were 580 
votes which would represent a population of nearly 3,000 
people. The settlements are of considerable interest since it 
is generally conceded that no other man did more than Mr. 
Birkbeck to save the State from the curse of slavery in 1824. 




A Mud House. This house was built of clay mixed with straw. It was built 
in 1852 and stood fifty years. It stood at the south edge of Richland 
county and is one of many such houses built in the southeastern part of the 
state in an early day. 



202 A Student's History of Illinois. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

A PIONEER INDUSTRY. 

229. The Government Surveys. — When the states claiming 
land west of the Alleghany mountains ceded their claims in 
1781-4, the government passed the Ordinance of 1785 which 
provided a system of surveys for the territory north of the 
Ohio. The work of surveying began at the western side of 
Pennsylvania and preceded slowly westward. As reports 
of these surveyors came to the government from time to 
time, more and more was learned of the unexplored country. 
Among other reports which came in were those which men- 
tioned the finding of salt licks and salt springs. 

On the 18th of May, 1796, congress ordered that the sur- 
veyors be instructed "to observe closely for mines, salt springs, 
salt licks, and mill-seats." 

In 1799-1800, Wm. Henry Harrison was a delegate in con- 
gress from the Northwest Territory and was a member of the 
committee on territories. In one of his reports he says : 

Upon inquiry we find that salt springs and salt licks on the east 
of the Muskingum and near the great Miama are operated by indi- 
viduals and timber is being wasted; Therefore, we recommend that 
salt springs and salt licks, property of the United States in the Ter- 
ritory of Ohio, ought to be leased for a term of years. 

This became the policy of the government relative to this 
resource in the Northwest Territory. 

230. Salt Springs Leased. — Wm. Henry Harrison became 
governor of the Indiana Territory in 1800. He made treaties 
with the Indians with the view of getting possession of all the 
lands which had salt springs or salt licks. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 203 

On the Saline river which rises in Hamilton, Franklin, 
and Williamson, and empties into the Ohio in Gallatin county, 
was found one of the greatest salt licks which is to be. found 
in the United States. There was also in the immediate vicin- 
ity salt springs of strongly impregnated water. This lick is 
within a half mile of the town of Equality, Gallatin county, 
the spring is down the Saline river about three miles. 

There are evidences that this lick and the spring and wells 
had been used by the Indians for 100 years before the com- 
ing of the whites. Above the spring on a bluff and also in 
the vicinity of the lick are vast quantities of a strange pottery 
which is very fully described in the September issue of the 
Popular Science Monthly, for 1877. It is believed this pot- 
tery was used in the evaporation of the strong brine, by the 
Indians and also by the French. 

These springs, licks, and wells were leased in 1803 to a 
Captain Bell, of Lexington, Kentucky, and in 1807 to John 
Bates of Jefferson county, Kentucky. 

231. Reservations. — Land offices were established in Kas- 
kaskia, Yincennes, and Detroit in 1804, and by the same law 
all salt springs, wells, and licks with the necessary lands ad- 
jacent thereto were reserved from sale as the property of the 
United States. On February 12, 1812, congress created the 
Shawneetown land district. Leonard White, Willis Har- 
grave, and Phillip Trammel constituted a committee to set 
aside the lands adjacent to these salt works as a "reservation" 
for the benefit of the salt works. The timber was needed for 
fuel to boil down the brine. Something like 100,000 acres of 
land was reserved from sale in the immediate vicinity of the 
Great Half Moon Lick which was found near Equality. An 
additional 84,000 acres were reserved in other southern Illi- 
nois communities. 

232. A Gift to Illinois. — The United States never succeeded 
in getting much rent from these salt works, though the par- 
ties who leased the works from the government are said to 



204 A Student's History of Illinois. 

have prospered financially. The actual labor was performed 
by negro slaves from Kentucky, Tennessee, and perhaps from 
other slave states. We shall speak of this in a later chapter. 

When Nathanial Pope framed the Enabling Act which 
permitted Illinois to make a constitution, he inserted a pro- 
vision that all salt springs, wells, and licks with the reserva- 
tions thereto belonging should become the property of Illinois. 
These lands could not be sold without the consent of congress. 
The legislature thereafter leased these works and collected the 
profits. 

These salt works never paid the State any adequate return 
for the cost of watching them and collecting the rent. The 
State eventually got the consent of congress to sell these res- 
ervations. The money was used in constructing the old peni- 
tentiary at Alton and in building roads, and in making other 
improvements on the eastern part of the State. 

233. Making" Salt. — The salt making process at first was 
very simple. Large iron kettles holding from forty-five to 
ninety gallons each were brought down the Ohio from Pitts- 
burg to Shawneetown. Long trenches were dug in the 
ground and lined with rock on the sides. The kettles were set 
over these trenches and the spaces between filled with mortar or 
mud, a chimney was constructed at one end of the long row 
of kettles and a fire kept constantly burning under the kettles 
which were filled with the brine. The brine was gotten by 
digging wells from thirty feet to 2,000 feet deep. 

The fuel was the timber off of the reservation. This was 
easily furnished for a few years, but soon the timber was cut 
for one or two miles. Then the cost of hauling fuel to the 
wells and furnaces was too great to justify the continuance 
of the business. Then was shown real genius — then came the 
real forerunner of the present pipe line systems. 

234. The Pipe Line. — The furnaces were now moved to 
the timber in some instances some three or four miles away. 
The water was carried to the furnaces in wooden pipes. These 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



205 



pipes were made by cutting down trees about ten to sixteen 
inches in diameter and into lengths of from twelve to twenty 
feet. A two-inch auger hole was bored endwise through these 
logs. At the butt end the opening was reamed out, while the 
smaller end of another log was trimmed to enter this en- 
larged opening. The small end was inserted into the butt 
end and the joint made secure by a sort of battering-ram. 




A Section of a Wooden Pipe used in the Salt Works at Equality. Many of 
these wooden pipes are still buried in the ground in that locality. 



To prevent the butt end from splitting, iron bands were fitted 
over the log. These wooden pipe lines ran straight from the 
wells to the timber, over small hills and across streams. To 
force the water over the small hills a sort of standpipe was 
constructed at the well high enough to force the water over all 
points between the wells and the furnaces. In crossing the 
streams the pipe line was forced to the bottom of the water 
by heavy iron riders said to weigh several hundred pounds. 

These old furnaces, pipe lines, and wells are to be seen 
today, although this process was abandoned about 18-10. Coal 



206 A Student's History of Illinois. 

came to be used as fuel and new furnaces were constructed at 
the wells. Evaporating pans from twelve to sixteen feet wide 
twenty feet long and twelve inches high, and constructed of 




The Great Half Moon Lick, situated near Equality. It is perhaps 
the largest lick in the United States. 



boiler iron were used instead of kettles. Steam was used for 
power and modern machinery took the place of hand labor. 

235. Palmy Days. — In the days of the pipe line system, 
there were hundreds of men employed, lumbermen, wood haul- 
ers, firemen, hands to attend the evaporating pans, coopers, 
inspectors, store-keepers, rivermen, hoop-pole merchants, and 
overseers. The pipes were first bored by hand but soon a 
horsepower anger was arranged. Negro slaves were the prin- 
cipal laborers. Later when the improved machinery, etc., was 
used, they made as much as 500 barrels a day. The manu- 
facture of salt ceased about Equality in 1870 because salt 
could be made cheaper in other parts of the country. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



207 



236. The Half Moon Lick. — This lick is a very great won- 
der. It is twenty-five or thirty feet deep and covers about ten 
or fifteen acres. Heavy timber grows all about it, but noth- 
ing within the lick except shrubbery. Many wells were sunk 
in this lick and the water piped to the furnaces miles away. 

Salt was made in large quantities in an early clay in Mon- 
roe county, nine miles due west of Waterloo; in Madison on 
Silver creek; in Bond on Shoal creek; in Jackson on Big 
Muddy. Salt was manufactured in Vermilion county also. 




A Kettle used by Conrad Will in Making Salt on Big Muddy- 
River. This kettle holds sixty gallons, and was brought 
with fifty or sixty others from Pittsburg, Pa., in J 8 14 
or 1815. The gentleman is Edward Worthen, a grand- 
son of Conrad Will. 



208 



A Student's History of Illinois. 




From "Washburne's Life of Edward Coles." 
Courtesy and permission of A. C. McClurg & Co., Chicago. 



GOVERNOR EDWARD COLES. 

J822— 1826. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 



ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR COLES— A GREAT 
STRUGGLE. 

237. The Governorship. — With the first political maneuv- 
ering in the spring of 1822, began one of the most momentous 
conflicts that was ever fought out on the soil of the great 
Prairie State. There was no dearth of ambitious men, and 
candidates were plentiful. There were four candidates for 
governor. They were Edward Coles, James B. Moore, Joseph 
Phillips, and Thomas C. Browne. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 209 

The last named gentleman was an associate judge on the 
supreme bench. Phillips was chief justice of the same court. 
Moore was major general in the State militia. Coles was at 
this time register of the land office at Edwardsville. 

Mr. Coles was a Virginian, having been born in that State 
December 15, 1786. He received a very liberal education in 
William and Mary college, though he did not graduate. Mr. 
Coles had all the breeding of a Virginia gentleman. His 
father was a colonel in the Revolutionary War and counted 
among his immediate friends and companions such promi- 
nent men as Patrick Henry, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, the 
Randolphs, and others not less prominent. Young Coles, af- 
ter leaving college in his senior year on account of his health, 
spent the next two years at his father's home, Enniscorthy, an 
old Virginia estate, in company with the above named states- 
men and in constant reading in his father's library. 

His father died in 1808 leaving the son the estate and the 
slaves. President Monroe had been won by the polish, edu- 
cation, and character of the young man, and offered him the 
position of private secretary. This was accepted and thus he 
spent several years of his life in the very midst of the stirring 
times of the war of 1812. During these years of life at the 
National Capital he became deeply interested in the problems 
of slavery. His correspondence show him to be a profound 
student of social problems. Jefferson opened his heart to the 
young man on this great question and no doubt the stand 
that Jefferson took against slavery greatly strengthened young 
Coles in his convictions of the sacredness of human freedom. 

In 1815, he resigned his position as private secretary to 
the President and traveled extensively in the west to deter- 
mine where he might like to settle. He drove with horse and 
buggy, accompanied by a servant and a saddle horse, over the 
states of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. From St. Louis he went 
to New Orleans, and from there to Savannah, Georgia, by 
water, and thence to his estate in Virginia. 



210 A Student's History of Illinois. 

238. Mission to Eussia. — In the summer of 1816, the 
President found it needful to send to Eussia a special envoy 
upon a diplomatic mission of great delicacy. Edward Coles 
was selected for the mission. He performed this service with 
great distinction. He returned by way of France where he 
was presented to the French King, Louis XVIIL, and was 
fortunate to meet General LaFayette at a dinner given by 
Albert Gallatin, minister to France. In London, Mr. Coles 
met many prominent Englishmen. It was here he met Mor- 
ris Birkbeck, founder of the English Prairie settlements. On 
his return to America, he visited Illinois again in 1818. He 
was in Ivaskaskia when the constitutional convention was in 
session and remained and used his influence to prevent the 
insertion of a clause permitting slavery. He returned to Vir- 
ginia and made preparations to move to Illinois. 

239. Freeing His Slaves.— On the first of April, 1819, he 
started from his Virginia home for the newly admitted State 
of Illinois. With him he brought his slaves left by his fath- 
er's death some four or five years before. At Brownsville, 
Pennsylvania, he bought two large flat bottomed boats upon 
which he embarked with all his earthly belongings, including 
twenty-six slaves. 

The second morning out from Pittsburg he called all his 
slaves around him and informed them that he now gave each 
of them his freedom." He told them they were at liberty to 
go on down the river with him or return to Virginia. If they 
went with him he intended to give each head of a family 160 
acres of land and would help them in other ways to get started 
in the world. Mr. Coles desired to study the effect of the 
news upon them and says: "The effect upon them was elec- 
trical. They stared at me and each other, as if doubting the 
accuracy or reality of what they heard. In breathless silence 
they stood before me, unable to utter a word, but with coun- 
tenances beaming with expressions which no word could con- 
vey and which no language can describe." 



A Student's History of Illinois. 211 

At or near Louisville, Kentucky, he sold his boats and 
sent his goods and newly freed slaves to Edwardsville by land. 
Before disembarking, Mr. Coles issued a certificate of emanci- 
pation to his slaves. Of this matter we shall speak in the 
future. 

When President Monroe heard that Mr. Coles was coming 
to Illinois to live, he gave him the appointment of register of 
the land office at Edwardsville. This he held till he was 
elected governor in 1822. 

240. Elected Governor. — It will be seen that Mr. Coles 
was comparatively a newcomer in Illinois when the canvass 
began for governor in 1822. It is said, however, that he was a 
very successful electioneerer. His position in the land office 
was of great value to him in that it threw him in touch with 
all the settlers from that part of the State. He was always 
well dressed, courteous, and dignified. It was understood that 
Coles was an anti-slavery man, while his chief opponent, Mr. 
Justice Phillips was in favor of that "peculiar institution." 
Moore was also anti-slavery, while Browne was for slavery. 
The vote for Coles and Moore, the anti-slavery candidates, was 
3,332, while for the other two it was 5,303. This shows that 
on a test of the slavery and anti-slavery sentiment the vote 
was overwhelmingly for slavery. And so the slavery party 
elected the lieutenant governor and other State officers as well 
as a majority in both branches of the general assembly. Dan- 
iel P. Cook was elected to congress against John McLean. Mr. 
Cook had served the State in congress and voted against the 
Missouri compromise. The great measure had been supported 
by Senators Edwards and Thomas, of Illinois, and the people 
were considerably wrought up over the subject. 

241. Inaugural. — The legislature convened at Vandalia 
the first Monday in December, 1822. This was on the second 
and on the fifth the newly elected governor gave his inaugural 
address. This speech by the governor recommended — First, 
that the legislature foster the agricultural society which was 



212 A Student's History of Illinois. 

then in its infancy. Second, he suggested that a subject of 
prime importance was the whole financial problem. Third, 
he was hopeful that the State might soon see its way clear to 
take steps to connect the Mississippi river with Lake Michi- 
gan by means of a canal. Fourth, he was very deeply im- 
pressed with the injustice of slavery, and recommended the 
freeing of the slaves in this State. He also called attention 
to the need of revising the laws on kidnapping, and the black 
laws. This speech very greatly disturbed the legislature, as 
well as the people of the State. Nearly all the people had 
come from slave-holding states and whether they ever had 
been slave owners or not they were easily touched on this 
subject. 

242. Slavery Sentiment. — The slavery sentiment was rap- 
idly crystallizing around the idea that a convention ought to 
be called to revise the constitution ; for only in this way could 
there be any hope of introducing slavery permanently into 
the State. That portion of the governor's address which re- 
lated to slavery was referred to a committee which brought in 
a report and a resolution. The report reviewed the history 
of slavery up to the admission of the State and then said : 

Your committee have now arrived at the period when Illinois was 
admitted into the Union upon equal footing with the original states 
in all respects whatever: and whatever causes of regret were ex- 
perienced by the restriction imposed on the first convention, your 
committee was clearly of the opinion that the people of Illinois have 
now the same right to alter their constitution as the people of the 
state of Virginia or any other of the original states, and may make 
any disposition of negro slaves they choose without any breach of 
faith or violation of contract, ordinances or acts of congress; and 
if the reasoning employed be correct there is no other course left by 
which to accomplish the object of this portion of the governor's mes- 
sage, than to call a convention to alter the constitution." 

A resolution was introduced which read as follows : "Re- 
solved, That the general assembly of the State of Illinois 
(two-thirds thereof concurring therein), do recommend to 



A Student's History of Illinois. 213 

the electors at the next election for the members of the gen- 
eral assembly to vote for or against a convention, agreeably 
to the seventh article of the constitution.*' It was thought 
the report of the committee would be readily concurred in. 
It was also known that in the senate the resolution would eas- 
ily pass, but in the house one vote was lacking to give the 
constitutional two-thirds majority. Now began one of the 
most questionable political schemes which has ever been car- 
ried out in the history of the State. Briefly the story is this : 

243. Nicholas Hansen. — Pike county, which included 
nearly all of Illinois north and west of the Illinois river, had 
returned Nicholas Hansen as a member of the house. His 
seat was contested by John Shaw. Very early in the session 
the house decided the contest by deciding that Hansen was 
entitled to his seat. The election of the United States senator 
was next in order. Jesse B. Thomas was returned to the 
United States senate. 

Nicholas Hansen had voted with the slavery side on all 
preliminaries and it was assumed he would vote for the final 
resolution which would call for a vote by the people on the 
question of a convention. The resolution had previously 
passed the senate and on February 11, 1823, was awaiting the 
action of the house. When the house roll was called, Hansen 
voted against the resolution and it failed by one vote. The 
convention people were wild with anger. Great confusion 
reigned and open threats were made. 

244. A Reconsideration. — A motion now prevailed in the 
house to reconsider the seating of Hansen. The proposition 
carried because it needed only a majority. The next move 
was to strike out the name of Hansen in the original resolu- 
tion seating him, and insert the name of Shaw. While this 
motion was pending a great mass meeting was held at night 
at the State House, and inflammatory speeches were made. 
Hansen was burned in effigy and the great mob marched 
through the streets with drums, and bugles, and shouts of 



214 A Student's History of Illinois. 

"Convention or death.*' The resolution unseating Hansen 
and seating Shaw carried. The next step was to bring Shaw 
from Pike county to Vandalia as quickly as possible. It was 
130 miles to where Shaw lived. The going and coming would 
ordinarily occupy five days, but in this case the round trip was 
made in four days, an average of sixty-five miles of travel each 
day. Upon the coming of Shaw the remainder of the dis- 
graceful proceedings occupied but little time. The call was 
issued for a vote for or against the convention to revise the con- 
stitution. 

As soon as the resolution was passed a great concourse of 
the friends of slavery gathered in a mob ; and headed by 
members of the supreme court, and other men in high sta- 
tions in life, they visited the residence of Governor Coles, and 
in a most indecent manner insulted and reviled the chief 
executive. Gov. John Reynolds says in his history: "There 
was in the seat of government a wild and indecorous proces- 
sion by torch-light and liquor. " 

It seems that the friends of freedom would have been 
crushed to earth to rise no more, but the unjustifiable pro- 
ceedings of the past few weeks had only given renewed 
strength to the little band of patriots. They must have had 
an enlarged vision through faith of what the great heart of 
the people would do when the question came up to them at 
the polls. 

245. A Bitter Campaign. — And now began one of the most 
important campaigns, because so far-reaching in its conse- 
quences, that was ever waged in this country. The slavery 
party had become intoxicated with its success and was not in 
a frame of mind to take a dispassionate view of the problem 
yet to be solved. So far the supporters of slavery had suc- 
ceded by mere brute force and unscrupulous scheming, but 
now the victory cannot be so won. They must go before the 
people and show the advantages of slavery, if it have any. It 



A Student's History of Illinois. 215 

is now a question to be solved by the christian conscience of 
the people. 

But the struggle before the people, and among the people, 
was destined to be a very bitter and violent one. When sel- 
fish personal interests are at stake, and when great and fun- 
damental principles are involved, the contest is sure to be ac- 
companied by demonstrations of violent passion. "Never was 
such canvass made in the State before. The young and the 
old, without regard to sex entered the arena of party strife; 
families and neighborhoods became divided, and surrendered 
themselves up to the bitter warfare. Detraction and personal 
abuse reigned supreme, while conflicts were not infrequent." 

The anti-convention people were not underestimating the 
seriousness of the struggle, nor were they hesitating about 
making the sacrifices which they saw must be made in order 
to gain the victory for freedom. And so they willingly and 
without reserve offered their all — time, money, and energy 
upon the altar of their conviction. 

246. The Means. — Both parties to the struggle selected the 
same means for the accomplishment of their ends. Among 
these we may mention : 

1. Public appeals through posters, hand bills, and pam- 
phlets. 

2. Public addresses given before audiences wherever as- 
sembled. 

3. Secret societies organized in various parts of the State. 

4. Newspapers. 

247. Public Appeals. — Just before the adjournment of the 
legislature the convention people drew up "An Appeal" to 
the people of the State in which they pointed out the urgent 
necessity of revising the constitution of the State. In this 
"appeal" not a word was said about slavery, that topic being 
carefully omitted. 

The "Antis" were on the point of issuing a similar appeal 
when they were anticipated by the pro-slavery people. This 



216 A Student's History of Illinois. 

appeal by the non-convention people was a vigorous arraign- 
ment of the recent action in the senate and house. One ex- 
tract from that appeal shows the spirit of the entire document : 

What a strange spectacle would be presented to the civilized 
world to see the people of Illinois, yet innocent of this great na- 
tional sin and in the full enjoyment of all the blessings of free 
governments, sitting down and in solemn convention to deliberate 
and determine whether they should introduce among them a portion 
of their fellow beings, to be cut off from those blessings, to be loaded 
with the chains of bondage, and rendered unable to leave any other 
legacy to their posterity than the inheritance of their own servitude; 
the wise and good of all nations would blush at our own political de- 
pravity. Our profession of republicanism and equal freedom would 
incur the derision of despots and the scorn and reproach of tyrants. 
We should write the epitaph of free government upon its own tomb- 
stone. 

In addition to these two "appeals," there were hundreds 
of pamphlets, tracts, hand bills, and flaming posters scattered 
broadcast over the country. It is said some of these pamphlets, 
bills, etc., were very inflammatory. The authors of much of 
this literature as well as those who distributed it were not 
known to the general public. But it must not be thought that 
everything of this kind was clone in the dark for many on both 
sides were very bold in their work. 

248. Morris Birkbeck. — Perhaps no one man by means of 
his pen, did more to bring about the final and triumphant de- 
feat of the slavery party than did Morris Birkbeck, of Wan- 
borough, Edwards county. Mr. Birkbeck, as we have seen, 
was a cultured and wealthy English gentleman whom Gover- 
nor Coles had met in London. Mr. Birkbeck wrote with great 
force, and being thoroughly sympathetic with the anti-con- 
vention people gave up his time and energy unreservedly. His 
writings were published in the Shawneetown Gazette, edited 
by Henry Eddy. He also published pamphlets which were 
scattered throughout the State. The articles published in the 
Shawneetown Gazette were signed Jonathan Freeman, and 



A Student's History of Illinois. 217 

were widely copied. It must be remembered that the English 
people who were thinking of leaving England from 1815 to 
1824 were too intelligent and too patriotic to leave an unbear- 
able slavery to church and state in England, and to migrate 
to a country where there was a slavery many times more gall- 
ing and degrading — a slavery which wherever it had been 
planted, had blighted the purity of the social and family life, 
paralyzed the wage earning capacity of the honest laborers, 
corrupted the teaching of holy writ, prohibited the general 
spread of intelligence, and brazenly usurped the functions of 
government. 

Morris Birkbeck was only voicing the sentiments of the 
English immigrants in Illinois as with ease and grace and 
great warmth he engaged in the great struggle. 

249. John M. Peck. — Another man to whom great praise 
should be given was the Rev. John M. Peck, a Baptist preacher 
of St. Clair county. He was also an agent of the American 
Bible Society. Mr. Peck was constantly going over the coun- 
try, and he thus had an excellent opportunity to plead with 
the people and distribute the pamphets prepared by others. 

250. Public Speaking. — The second means was the public 
addresses which the orators delivered wherever and whenever 
they had opportunity. The attractiveness of a personal ex- 
planation of the value of slavery or of the curse of it, drew to 
the public gatherings vast multitudes of people. The county 
seats were the centers of the agitation. On all public occa- 
sions whenever there was an opportunity, some one was ready 
with a speech upon the question of convention or no conven- 
tion. At the public dinner, toasts were given which revealed 
the spirit in which the contest was carried on. Some of them 
ran as follows : "The convention — the means of introducing 
and spreading the African family." "The enemies of the con- 
vention — may they ride a porcupine saddle on a hard trotting 
horse a long way without money or friends." "The State of 
Illinois — the ground is good, prairies in abundance. Give us 



218 A Student's History of Illinois. 

plenty of negroes, a little industry, and she will distribute her 
treasures.' 7 One need hardly be told that these toasts are the 
exponents of an intemperate, untenable, and losing policy. 
There is no sign of seriousness, no indication of a high and 
lofty ideal of social and political institutions. They breathe 
the spirit of revenge, and of a losing cause. 

In contrast with these we need only to quote a few toasts 
given by the fearless public speakers who were at all times 
conscious of the justness of their cause — the men who were 
fighting a winning battle. "The Crisis — it is big with the 
fate of Illinois, and requires every friend of freedom to rally 
under the banners of the constitution. " "The Freedom of the 
Late Northwest — may it be like the little stone that was cut 
out without hands and became a great mountain and filled the 
earth." "The convention or no convention — the world listens 
to hear the dicision of our moral and political character pro- 
nounced by ourselves/ 7 "We have confidence in the people of 
Illinois to support a free constitution and prohibit slavery ; if 
we should be disappointed in the people, we still have con- 
fidence in the general government." 

251. Secret Societies. — The third agency enumerated 
above, in carrying on the campaign, was a kind of secret so- 
ciety. The Rev. Mr. Peck was quite active in organizing these 
societies. These organizations merely got together the people 
of any locality for consideration of the plans of work and for 
the hearing of reports and for the encouragement of those 
who might get disheartened. There was a sort of parent so- 
ciety in St. Clair county, and in other counties thirteen other 
societies were organized. 

To counteract the work of these societies the convention 
people organized what they called executive committees of 
ten members each. Vandalia was the headquarters for this 
work of the executive committee. 

Among the public speakers who favored the convention 
were: Eichard M. Young, Jesse B. Thomas, John McLean, 



A Student's History of Illinois. 219 

E. K. Kane, John Reynolds, Thomas Reynolds, Ex-governor 
Bond, etc. All these men were prominent in public life. 

Some of those who took the stump against the convention 
were: Governor Coles, the Rev. John M. Peck, Daniel P. 
Cook, and others. 

252. Newspapers. — The fourth agency in this great strug- 
gle was the newspapers. As soon as it was seen that the strug- 
gle would have to be settled by the people there was an un- 




Henry Eddy. Mr. Eddy edited the "Illinois 

Emigrant" in Shawneetown, and did 

valiant service in the Slavery 

Struggle of \ 824. 



conscious turning of the people to the newspapers for direction 
and information. 

There were five papers in Illinois at that time. These were : 

The Edwardsville Spectator, Edwardsville. 

The Illinois Intelligencer, Vandalia. 

The Illinois Gazette, Shawneetown. 



220 A Student's History of Illinois. 

The Republican Advocate, Kaskaskia. 

The Republican, Edwardsville. 

The first three were against the convention, while the last 
two named favored the convention. 

253. The Vote. — At last the struggle was over. For eight- 
een months the State had been in the vortex of a great storm. 
The cloud will soon break away and the sun will shine once 
more. 

On the first Monday in August, 1824, the general election 
was held and it was in this general election that this question 
must be settled. It was an eventful day. The cause of free- 
dom was on trial. The jury was the 11,612 voters who had 
the decision in their hands. The result was the occasion of 
great rejoicing. The following is the vote as furnished by 
the secretary of state: 

GENERAL ELECTION. 

1824. 

Abstract of vote for and against convention August 2, A.D. 
1824: 

Counties. For Convention. Against Convention. 

Alexander 75 51 

Bond 63 240 

Clark 31 116 

Crawford 1 34 262 

Edgar 3 234 

Edwards 189 391 

Fayette 125 121 

Franklin 170 113 

Fulton 5 60 

Gallatin 597 133 

Greene 164 379 

Hamilton 173 85 

Jackson 180 93 

Jefferson 99 43 

Johnson 74 74 



A Student's History of Illinois. 221 

Counties. For Convention. Against Convention. 

Lawrence 158 261 

Madison 351 563 

Marion 45 52 

Monroe 141 196 

Montgomery 74 90 

Morgan 42 432 

Pike 19 165 

Pope 273 124 

Randolph 357 - 284 

Sangamon 153 722 

St. Clair 408 506 

Union .,. 213 240 

Washington 112 173 

Wayne . 189 111 

White 355 326 

4972 6640 

Majority against the convention 1,668. 

Some notion may be had of the interest in the convention 
question by noting the votes for presidential electors com- 
pared with the vote on the convention question. Pope cast 
397 votes on the convention proposition, while her total vote 
for electors was 84. Gallatin cast on convention question 730 
votes, on electors 315. St. Clair on convention question 914, 
on electors 399. 

The total vote cast on the convention question was 11,612, 
while the total vote for presidential electors at election in No- 
vember of the same year in the thirty counties, was but 4,671. 

254. The Explanation. — Many explanations have been of- 
fered of the vote on the convention. There were at least four 
distinct elements in the population as regards this question. 

1. The remnant of the old French settlers who held slaves 
by reason of the treaties of 1763, and of 1783, and of Vir- 
ginia's deed of session of 1784. 

2. The pro-slavery instincts of the immigrants from the 
slave holding states. 



222 



A Student's History of Illinois. 




'he Black Counties went for Slavery while the White Counties were for 
Freedom. Johnson county was a tie. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



223 



3. The anti-slavery views of the immigrants from the free 
states. 

4. The intense feeling against slavery held by the English 
settlers in the eastern part of the State, as well as that of 
other European settlers. 

The first named class lived chiefly in Randolph county, 
St. Clair and Madison. These three counties cast 1,116 votes 
for the convention. 

The second class had settled in White, Gallatin, and Pope 
counties. These cast 1,225 votes for the convention. 

The result of the vote in Edgar, Clark, Morgan, Sanga- 
mon, and Fulton shows the character of the settlers. They 
voted very largely against the convention. The vote in these 
five counties stood 234 for and 1,464 votes against the con- 
vention. 

The influence of the English settlers may be seen in the 
vote in Edwards county. But there were Irish, Scotch, and 
Germans scattered throughout the State and their votes were 
against slavery. 




Grant's Home near St. Louis. His son, Gen. Fred Grant, is seen on horse 
back in front of the building. 



224 A Student's History of Illinois. 



CHAPTER XXV. 

LAST HALF OF GOVERNOR COLES' TERM. 

255. Legislation. — The State election at which was de- 
cided the convention question was held in August, 1824, while 
the election for President was held in November following. 
The difference in the vote at the two elections, only three 
months apart, shows a considerable falling off in interest in 
politics. Everything quieted down after the August election, 
and the bitterness engendered in the long campaign vanished 
as the morning mists. 

When the legislature which was elected on August 2, met 
in December (first Monday) and organized, the governor sent 
in his message. He congratulated the people upon the result 
of the contest over slavery, and again recommended the aboli- 
tion of the slaves held by the descendants of the French set- 
tlers. But the legislature did not follow the governors sug- 
gestion, although a majority of the members were probably 
anti-slavery in sentiment. Two United States senators were 
elected, John McLean and Eli as Kent Kane, both very strong 
convention advocates. The judiciary was reorganized by cre- 
ating a circuit court of five judges. The supreme court con- 
sisted of four judges. These nine judges were elected by the 
legislature as provided by the constitution of 1818, Article IV. 
The new chief justice of the supreme court, Wm. Wilson, was 
a young man of twenty-nine years and had lately, 1817, come 
into the State. He was a young man of unusual parts. In 
less than two years after coming he had been put upon the 
supreme bench and had now served five years in that position. 
He served the State till 1848 when he retired to the quiet of 
a very hospitable home near Carmi where he died in 1857. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 225 

All the other members of both circuit and supreme courts were 
prominent men. 

The legislation at this session was of general interest. A 
law was passed which provided for the maintenance of public 
roads. Up to this time the law had required that every able- 
bodied man should work the roads five days in each year. In 
this way the roads were maintained. The new law levied a 
tax in proportion to one's property which amount might be 
paid in money or in labor. Another law was passed which 
provided a system of free public schools much like the law of 
today. This school law was brought forward by Joseph Dun- 
can then a senator from Jackson county. The basis of this 
law was that the voters might levy a tax for the support of 
the schools in any district, but the taxes must not be more 
than one-half of one per cent on the assessed valuation, nor 
more than ten dollars for any one person. The tax might be 
paid in cash or in merchantable produce. A poll tax could also 
be assessed on all who had the care of children of school age. 

This law was seriously maimed in the legislature of 1826-7 
and in 1829 it was further crippled, and little if any of the 
original idea which Mr. Duncan had worked out was left on 
the statute books. 

At this session also the supreme court was authorized to 
revise the laws of the State and to present such revision to the 
next legislature. This the court did, and it is said that this 
revision has been the basis of our laws even up to the present 
time. 

256. The Sangamon Country. — The law required the cen- 
sus to be taken every five years, and although the contest over 
slavery had checked immigration during 1823 and 1824, yet 
in the latter part of 1824 and in 1825 streams of population 
poured into the State from the older settled parts of the Un- 
ion. Travellers who had visited this State carried into the 
east and even into Europe marvellous stories of the Sangamon 
country. The name itself is poetic, and there was connected 



226 A Student's History of Illinois. 

with the expression a sort of vision of paradise. Ferdinand 
Ernst, in 1819-20, visited that region. He was a German 
traveller who reached the site of Vandalia before the sale of 
lots took place, which occurred the 6th of September, 1819. 
From here he visited the Sangamon country. There was a 
very good road leading from Edwardsville into the Sangamon 
country. As nearly as this road can be now traced, it ran in 
almost a straight line from Edwardsville to the present city 
of Carlinville, passing on the way the site of the present flour- 
ishing city of Bunker Hill. From Carlinville the road bent to 
the east of north passing out of the present county of Ma- 
coupin at the northeast corner, three miles east of the present 
city of Virden. From this point east of north to a point very 
near Rochester, and thence to a point near the junction of the 
south branch and north fork of the Sangamon river, leaving 
the site of the present capital some four or five miles to the 
west. From here the road continued the same general direc- 
tion to the present city of Lincoln. The road continued this 
general direction till it left the present county of Logan at 
the old Kickapoo capital. Here it struck Tazewell county and 
thence turned northwest to Lake Peoria. This was the route 
taken by Governor Edwards in his campaign in 1812. 

257. Mr. Ernst. — Mr. Ernst, the traveller, took this road 
in 1819. He started from Vandalia and went northwest, 
crossed Shoal creek, left the head waters of Silver and Sugar 
creek to the southwest, passed not far from Mt. Olive and 
Gillespie, and came into the road described above, a few miles 
north of Bunker Hill. He describes the big prairie which 
separates the head waters of the Macoupin and the Sangamon. 
He says the moment one passes over the divide into the drain- 
age basin of the Sangamon he sees a marked difference in the 
character of the soil. The second night out the traveller 
stayed with a family on Sugar creek, about two miles west of 
Pawnee. Sixty farms had been opened on this stream since 
the spring of 1819. The sod-corn was from ten to fifteen feet 



A Student's History of Illinois. 227 

high. The land was not yet surveyed and could not be for 
some three years. This was called "the beautiful land of the 
Sangamon.-* From this point Mr. Ernst traveled west in a 
circuit around the present site of Springfield to Elkhart Grove. 
Here lived a Mr. Latham who had thirty acres in cultivation. 
This farm was the farthest north of any east of the Illinois 
river. However, there were some farms laid out at the old 
Kickapoo capital just in the edge of Tazewell county, but no 
settlements made. Mr. Ernst went north to Salt creek, but 
not being able to get across he retraced his steps. 
Mr. Ernst says : 

In the vicinity of this town (Vandalia) is a large amount of fine 
land: but every one is full of praise of those sixty or eighty miles 
northward upon the river Sangamon. The expression the "Sangamon 
Country," applied to all that country through which the Sangamon 
river and its branches flow. Peck's Gazetteer, page 131, says: This 
country contains a larger quantity of rich land than any other in 
the State. The Sangamon, in particular, is an Arcadian region, in 
which nature has delighted to bring together her happiest combina- 
tions of landscape. It is generally a level country. There is a 
happy proportion of timbered and prairie lands. The soil is of great 
fertility. .. .All who have visited this fine tract of country, admire 
the beauty of the landscape, which nature has here painted in pri- 
meval freshness. 

This Sangamon region was settled by immigrants from 
all the older states but probably those from the northern states 
predominated. More than 200 families had settled in the 
"Sangamon Country" before the land was surveyed. In the 
vote on the convention question, Sangamon county cast 875 
votes — 153 for and 722 against the convention. This would 
show a population of over 4,000 in 1824. It also means that 
these settlers were from the free states chiefly. 

By the spring of 1825, the result of the slavery contest was 
known in all the older states, and as if people were waiting 
for a favorable report, the movement of immigration began. 



228 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



The fame of the "Sangamon Country" had spread into 
all the older settled portions of the United States and the mi- 
grations were largely toward that region. In the summer of 
1825, the road leading into the "Sangamon Country" was lit- 
erally lined with movers seeking new homes. In Vandalia 
alone it is said 250 wagons were counted going north in three 
weeks. 

258. Invitation to LaFayette. — The summer of 1825 was 
a memorable one for the new State, for in the earlier days of 




General LaFayette as he appeared at the time of 

his visit to Kaskaskia and Shawneetown. 

He was then 68 years old. 



this summer, a notable guest was entertained by the young 
commonwealth. The guest was none other than General La- 
Fayette, soldier, statesman, and patriot. The congress of the 
United States had invited General LaFayette to visit the 
scenes of his military achievement and to mingle once more 
with the thinning ranks of the Revolutionary heroes. The 



A Student's History of Illinois. 229 

gracious invitation was accepted, and on July 12, 1824, La- 
Fayette accompanied by his son, George Washington LaFay- 
ette, and his private secretary, M. Levasseur, sailed for 
America. 

They arrived at New York August 15, and were received 
on Staten Island by Joseph Bonaparte, a brother to the great 
Napoleon, then a resident of Bordentown, New Jersey. Gen- 
eral LaFayette was received in New York City by a double 
line of old Eevolutionary soldiers, amid the roar of cannon 
and the strains of martial music. Everywhere the same pro- 
found respect and triumphant welcome awaited the nation's 
guest. 

259. Invited to Illinois. — Early in the session of the gen- 
eral assembly in December, 1824, that body extended a cordial 
invitation to General LaFayette to visit Illinois. This invi- 
tation from the State's legislative body was supplemented by 
a very affectionate letter from Governor Coles. On January 
16, 1825, LaFayette replied from Washington to these press- 
ing invitations to visit Illinois. In the reply he says : 

It has ever been my eager desire and it is now my earnest inten- 
tion to visit the western states and particularly the State of Illi- 
nois....! shall, after the celebration of the 22d of February anni- 
versary day, leave this place for a journey to the southern, and from 
New Orleans to the western states, so as to return to Boston on the 
14th of June, when the corner stone of the Bunker's Hill monument 
is to be laid; a ceremony sacred to the whole Union, and in which 
I have been engaged to act a peculiar and honorable part. 

260. Visits St. Louis.— On the 12th of April, 1825, La- 
Fayette wrote to Governor Coles from New Orleans saying he 
would reach Illinois about the end of the month of April. On 
April #8, the steamboat Natchez arrived at the old French 
village of Carondolet, below St. Louis, with General LaFayette 
and his party. He was accompanied by a large committee of 
honor from the southern states. The morning of the 29th of 
April, Governor Clark, of Missouri; Governor Coles, of Illi- 



230 A Student's History of Illinois. 

nois; Col. Thomas H. Benton, and others repaired to Caron- 
dolet to receive the distinguished visitors. The entire party 
moved up the river to St. Louis where LaFayette was received 
with great enthusiasm. A formal reception was held at the 
mansion of Pierre Choteau, after which a public reception 
and ball was attended by the party at the Massie Hotel. 

261. Visits Kaskaskia. — On the morning of April 30, Sat- 
urday, the Natchez conveyed LaFayette and a distinguished 
party to Kaskaskia, the old seat of French empire in the west. 
A vast throng of patriotic citizens bade him welcome. A recep- 
tion was held at the home of General John Edgar. Governor 
Coles delivered a glowing address of welcome to which La- 
Fayette responded with considerable feeling. 

Just here in the proceedings a very touching scene oc- 
curred. A few old Revolutionary soldiers who had fought 
with LaFayette at Brandywine and Yorktown, were presented. 
The scene was very affecting. 

The party now repaired to the hotel kept by Colonel Sweet, 
where a banquet was spread. This hotel had been profusely 
decorated by the patriotic ladies of the town. Laurel wreaths, 
roses, and wild flowers filled all available space. The ladies 
had also brought the provision with which the tables were 
loaded. Col. Pierre Menard sat at LaFayette's right, while 
the priest, Father Olivier, sat at the left. 

262. Toasts. — After the banquet several toasts were given : 
By LaFayette — Kaskaskia and Illinois ; may their joint 

prosperity evince more and more the blessings of congenial 
industry and freedom. 

By Governor Coles — The inmates of La Granges (LaFay- 
ette's home); let them not be anxious; for though their 
father is 1,000 miles in the interior of America, he is yet in 
the midst of his affectionate children. 

By LaFayette's Sox — The grateful confidence of my 
father's children and grandchildren, in the kindness of his 
American family towards him. 



Student's History of Illinois. 



231 



By Governor Bond— General LaFayette: may he live to 
see that liberty established in his native country, which he 
helped to establish in his adopted country. 

This last toast touched a tender spot in the heart of the old 
hero and he said he must stand while they drank this toast. 

A grand ball was given at the residence of William Mor- 
rison, S.r. LaFayette led the grand march with Miss Alzire 
Menard, a daughter of Pierre Menard. While this festivity 




232 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



was in progress, an Indian woman who belonged to a tribe 
camped near by, was brought to LaFayette. She presented a 
keep-sake which she said her father gave her. It was a let- 
ter written by LaFayette and given to her father, Chief Pani- 
sciowa of the Six Nations. This chief had rendered valuable 
service to the American cause, and this letter was an expres- 
sion of appreciation from LaFayette. The Indian woman was 
called Mary. She was an educated woman and could speak 
French and English. LaFayette confirmed her story of the 
letter. 

263. The Visit to Shawneetown. — The ball closed the 
day's reception, and at 12 o'clock Saturday night of the last 




The Rawlings House in Shawneetown, where LaFayette was tendered a 
Reception and Banquet. The building burned recently. 



day in April, the Natchez started with the distinguished party 
for Nashville, Tennessee. Governor Coles and other Illinois 
gentlemen accompanied the party to Nashville. 

On the 14th of May the boat appeared in sight of Shaw- 
neetown. Extensive preparations had been made to receive the 



A Student's History of Illinois. 233 

nation's guest. At this date Shawneetown was a straggling- 
village with but a few dwellings other than mere huts. There 
was at least one brick house — possibly two — no more. One 
brick was a hotel and was known in after years as the Rawl- 
ings Hotel. This house stood just on the bank of the river. 
A walk had been laid from the hotel door to the landing, 
some 200 feet down the bank of the river. This walk was 
covered with calico and then strewn with flowers. When the 
boat run out the gang plank the visitors marched to the hotel 
door preceded by the reception committee. The walk was 
lined on opposite sides with people who threw roses and flow- 
ers in La Fayette's path. At the hotel Judge James Hall de- 
livered an address of welcome to which LaFayette responded. 
A banquet was then spread, after which a general hand shak- 
ing took place. The distinguished visitors left in the after- 
noon for the upper Ohio. 

264. The Election of 1826.— The canvass for the gover- 
norship which took place in the summer of 1826 was a long 
and interesting contest. The constitution of 1818 provided 
that the governor could not succeed himself. Governor Coles 
was therefore ineligible for re-election. 

There were three who announced themselves as candidates 
for governor. They were Ninian Edwards, Thomas Sloo, and 
Adolphus Frederick Hubbard. The last named gentleman was 
the lieutenant governor with Governor Coles. 

Ninian Edwards was no stranger to the people of Illinois. 
He was a native of Maryland, but was reared in Kentucky. 
In 1809 when Madison appointed him territorial governor of 
Illinois, he was an associate justice of the court of appeals of 
Kentucky. He served continuously as territorial governor till 
Illinois was admitted into the union in 1818. He had served 
as United States senator from 1818 to 1824. He became en- 
gaged in a quarrel in 1824 with the secretary of the United 
States treasury, Wm. H. Crawford, relative to the loss of 
money in the bank at Edwardsville and also concerning that 



234 A Student's History of Illinois. 

official's management of the national finances. He was not 
able to sustain some charges against Crawford and had lost 
standing as a result. His candidacy was an effort to gain his 
former high standing in his adopted State. 

Thomas Sloo was a successful merchant at Shawneetown 
and later of McLeansboro. He came of a noted family, and 
was himself a courtly gentleman. He had never practiced 
public speaking and so was greatly handicapped in the race 
against so polished a public speaker as Xinian Edwards. 

It is said of Edwards that he dressed faultlessly, and was 
a "man with a noble, princely appearance." He made his 
canvass of the State in all the circumstance of a Virginia plan- 
ter — broadcloth suit, ruffled shirt, high topped boots, carriage, 
and colored servants. He was bold in his attack upon the 
State Bank management and made little or no effort to hold 
his former friends to his cause. The opposition argued that 
Edwards was old, and that he and his family and near kin had 
been holding office since the territory was organized. But 
when election day came Ninian Edwards was elected governor 
for four years. 

There were two candidates for the office of lieutenant gov- 
ernor, William Kinney and Samuel H. Thompson. Kinney 
was a Baptist preacher and had taken an active part in the 
convention struggle on the pro-slavery side in 1824. He was 
not scholarly, but was thoroughly acquainted with the people 
and was sympathetic with them in their struggle with all the 
problems of a new country. He was not averse to making use 
of the current methods of electioneering in those days. Mr. 
Thompson was a man of considerable culture, but timid, and 
not having previously engaged in politics the experiences were 
new to him and he did not make a very successful canvass. 
Kinney was the successful candidate. 

265. Daniel P. Cook. — There was another election in the 
fall of 1826 which created no unusual interest. This was the 
contest for congressional honors. Daniel P. Cook had repre- 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



235 



sented the State in congress the past six years. He had suc- 
cessively beaten John McLean, Elias Kent Kane, and ex-Gov- 
ernor Bond for congress, and had risen to the most important 
committee chairmanship, that of the ways and means. Cook 
was an anti-slavery man and had voted for John Quincy Ad- 
ams in 1825 when the presidential election came to the House. 
This was the charge against him in 1826, for Illinois was full 
of Jackson Democrats. 

Joseph Duncan felt therefore that he was justified in op- 
posing Mr. Cook for the congressional honors. Mr. Duncan 
had been a soldier, had served in the legislature, was a strong 
Jackson man, and made a thorough canvass. He defeated 
Cook by 641 votes. This is said to be the first canvass in Illi- 
nois in which national politics entered to any extent into the 
campaign. 




The Memrd Mansion near Old Kasfcasfcia. It is now the residence property of 
the Lynn brothers. LaFayette visited with the Menard family in this 
house on the occasion of his visit to Kaskaskia. The house has never been 
re-modeled — only re-covered — since LaFayette's visit. 



236 



A Student's History of Illinois. 




GOVERNOR NINIAN EDWARDS, 

J826— 1830 



CHAPTEK XXVI. 



ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR EDWARDS. 

266. Inauguration. — Mnian Edwards was inaugurated 
governor in December, 1826. He had, as previously stated, 
been territorial governor of Illinois from 1809 to 1818. He 
was well known everywhere, and was recognized as a very 
successful politician and as a worthy citizen. He delivered 
his message to the legislature in a plain speech in which he 
took strong ground against the State Bank and its manage- 
ment. He also discussed taxation, expenditures, and recom- 



A Student's History of Illinois. 237 

mended the abolition of the positions of circuit court judges. 
In the inaugural message he seems not to have made specific 
charges against the management of the bank; but in a later 
message, he charged that loans of more than $1,000 were made 
on real estate security which, according to the terms of the 
charter, was unlawful. He also charged that the law had been 
violated with regard to personal loans. He further charged 
that money had been loaned without any security, and thus 
the management had been guilty of great irregularity if not 
of actual violation of the law. The clause in the charter which 
Governor Edwards said had been violated, was included in the 
oath of office connected with the management. It was: "I 
will not permit money to be loaned to any individual person 
without security." 

267. Management of the Bank. — It was shown that a loan 
for $2,000 was made on real estate security, and when the 
mortgage was foreclosed and the land sold, the bank realized 
only $491.83. It was also shown that another loan of $6,625 
was secured by real estate valued at only $3,140.71. The 
governor further showed that this loan was made to three 
prominent advocates of the convention for the purpose of 
founding a pro-slavery newspaper at Edwardsville in 1824. 

Further, the governor showed that the officers had loaned 
themselves money greatly in excess of the amounts permitted 
by law. 

The governor kept persistently at the task of exposing the 
corruption and illegality in the management of the bank and 
the legislature was finally forced to appoint a committee of 
investigation. 

A committee of seven took a large amount of testimony 
and reported eventually to the house and from that report that 
body "Resolved, That nothing has been proved against the 
late president, directors, and cashier of the branch bank at 
Edwardsville, to-wit: William Kinney, Joseph A. Beaird, 
Thomas Carlin, Abraham Prickett, Elijah lies, and Theophilus 



238 A Student's History of Illinois. 

W. Smith, which would justify the belief that they had acted 
corruptly and in bad faith in the management of the affairs 
of the said bank/' To Governor Edwards and his friends this 
looked like a case of "whitewashing." 

268. The Courts. — In another direction the governor seems 
to have had more success, for he took strong ground against 
the necessity of a circuit court, insisting that the members of 
the supreme court could also hold the circuit courts. There 
seems little doubt that there was quite a deal of questionable 
politics in the help which Governor Edwards got in this legis- 
lation. The circuit court was created in 1824-5 with five 
judges, the supreme court having four judges. One of the 
circuit judges, McRoberts, had removed from the clerkship of 
the circuit court, Joseph Conway, a political opponent of the 
judge. Conway was popular and was elected to the senate 
where he had a chance to help legislate Judge McRoberts out 
of office. 

The bill provided that Judge R. M. Young should be re- 
tained as a circuit judge in the military district, while all the 
rest of the State was divided into four districts and one of the 
four judges of the supreme court was assigned to each of the 
districts. John Reynolds, afterwards governor of the State, 
was in the legislature and voted in favor of abolishing the 
circuit judgeships. He says that there was little work for 
the supreme judges to do and there was great need of economy 
in expenditures. 

269. First Penitentiary. — Another very important action 
taken by this legislature was that of providing a penitentiary. 
John Reynolds, who was afterwards governor of the State 
and wrote a history of Illinois, is to be given credit for this 
movement which resulted in the penitentiary. Governor Rey- 
nolds in speaking of this says : "I had reflected upon the subject 
of punishment of criminals, and had reached the conclusion 
that the criminal law should be changed, and that the an- 
cient barbarous system of whipping, cropping, and branding for 



A Student's History of Illinois. 239 

crime should be abolished and the penitentiary substituted. 
This ancient practice had been in operation for ages and it 

was difficult to change it But the age required the old 

barbarous system of the pillory, the whipping post, and the 
gallows to be cast away, and a more christian and enlightened 
mode of punishment adopted.'' 

270. The Whipping-Post. — Doctor Samuel Willard, an 
honored citizen of Chicago, stated in a paper before the Illi- 
nois State Historical Society in Springfield, Thursday, Janu- 
ary 26, 1906, his experiences in coming to Illinois in 1831 ; 
and after telling of a public hanging which was quite shock- 
ing, continued as follows : 

Another infliction of punishment which would now be more re- 
volting in public than the hanging would be, I saw on the public 
square in Carrollton, in 1832. There was then no penitentiary in 
the State, hence other penalties had to take the place of confinement. 

Near the courthouse on the public square there was set a strong 
post, an unhewn log, ten feet high with a cross piece near the top. 
I saw a man brought from the jail by the sheriff (Jacob Fry) and 
a constable, to be whipped thirty lashes for the theft of a horse. He 
was stripped naked to the hips, his hands were tied and the rope 
carried to the cross piece and drawn as tight as could be without 
taking his feet from the ground. Then Sheriff Fry took that terri- 
ble instrument of punishment and torture, a raw-hide; . . . .the sheriff 
began laying strokes on the culprit's back, beginning near his neck 
and going regularly down one side of the backbone, former Sheriff 
Young counting the strokes aloud. Each stroke made a red blood 
blister. When fifteen blows had been counted the officer paused and 
some one ran to the poor wretch with a tumbler of whiskey. Then 
the other side of the man received like treatment. Then the man's 
shirt was replaced and he was led away to the jail The whipping- 
post remained there two or three years, but I never heard of any 
further use of it. 

It was this sort of barbarity which Mr. Reynolds desired 
to abolish by substituting confinement at hard labor in the 
penitentiary. 

271. Selling the Salt Reservation. — Governor Reynolds' 
proposition met with favor, but when the question was asked 



240 A Student's History of Illinois. 

where is the money to come from, no one seemed to know. 
Governor Reynolds was equal to the emergency. He proposed 
to get the consent of congress to sell the lands included in the 
salt reservations in the State which amounted to considerably 
over 100,000 acres. Congress readily consented to the sale 
and 40,000 acres were put on the market. One-half of the re- 
ceipts was put into the penitentiary, and the other half into 
improving the roads, and clearing the rivers for navigation, 
in the eastern part of the State. 

At the suggestion of Mr. Reynolds the penitentiary was 
located at Alton. Ex-Governor Bond, Gersham Jayne, and 
William McKee, were made a committee to construct the 
buildings and to put the institution into running order, but 
it seems nothing was done till Mr. Reynolds became governor 
of the State in 1830 when the project was carried to com- 
pletion. 

272. School Legislation. — But all the legislation during 
these years was far from being wise. The lack of foresight on 
the part of the statesmen of that early period has been a sub- 
ject of regret in these later years. The second general assem- 
bly during Governor Edwards' term of office attempted to 
legislate in favor of the cause of education, but looking at it 
from the year 1906, it looks as if its efforts were a miserable 
failure. 

To understand this it will be necessary for us to go back 
to the Ordinance, and the Enabling Act. The former said : 
"Religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good 
government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the 
means of education shall forever be encouraged (in this north- 
west territory)." The Enabling Act provided that section 
numbered 16 in each township, or one of equal value, should 
be granted the State for the use of the schools of that town- 
ship. Again three per cent of the net proceeds of the sale 
of public lands in Illinois w r as given by the general govern- 
ment "for the encouragement of learning of which one-sixth 
part shall be exclusively bestowed on a college or university." 



A Student's History of Illinois. 241 

And again — one entire township was set aside by the general 
government for a seminary of learning in the State. The first 
grant, that of the sixteenth sections, amounted to near a mil- 
lion of acres, while the township grant amounted to 23,040 
acres. The three per cent gift was $613,362.96. 

The first legislation looking toward the care of this munifi- 
cent gift was in 1819. In that year the first State legislature 
passed laws which had for their object the protection of the 
sixteenth section by making it unlawful to take timber from 
these school lands. It also provided that these lands might 
be leased and the rents put into improvements. Some legis- 
lation in 1821 provided for the opening of schools and the es- 
tablishing of other educational agencies. 

In 1825 Senator Duncan secured the passage of a law al- 
ready referred to. This system of common schools planned 
by Senator Duncan in 1825 was very much like the one we 
have today. Taxes were to be levied and collected on the 
property of the people in the district. There was a board of 
directors who were to have control of the school, buildings, 
examine the teachers, and have general oversight of the whole 
subject. 

In 1826-7 the legislature provided for better securities 
from those who were borrowing the money for which the 
school lands had been sold. But in 1829, the legislature re- 
pealed the part of the Duncan law of 1825 which gave two per 
cent of the net revenue of the State to the schools. Every 
commendable feature of the Duncan law was now repealed and 
the schools lay prostrate till 1855. 

273. Selling School Lands.— The legislature of 1828-9 also 
adopted the plan of selling the school and seminary lands. 
The law provided that the sixteenth section in each township 
might be sold whenever nine-tenths of the inhabitants (evi- 
dently voters) were in favor of the sale. Later the law al- 
lowed the sale if three-fourths were in favor of it. 

The immigrants coming into an unsettled township were 
always eager to dispose of the sixteenth section as it made a 



242 A Student's History of Illinois. 

fund with which the authorities might assist the schools. But 
this section when sold for $1.25 per acre, the regular govern- 
ment price, would bring only $800, and this at 10 per cent in- 
terest would bring only $80 per year. This would not be of 
much service when distributed among the schools of the town- 
ship. 

At this date, 1906, much of this land is worth from $100 
to $200 per acre. The argument for selling the lands was 
that the early pioneers were the ones who ought to reap most 
of the benefit of the government's liberality. Six hundred 
and forty acres at $100 per acre would make a permanent 
fund of $64,000, which put at interest at six per cent would 
produce an annual income of $3,840. This distributed among 
nine schools would give to each school in the township 
$426.66. 

The seminary township was sold in 1842 and the money 
borrowed by the State. The State also borrowed the three per 
cent of the public lands. The amount borrowed was about 
$500,000. This money came to the State treasury in quanti- 
ties of $20,000 a year. For twenty-five years the State had a 
constant income of $20,000 per year. When it was all in, the 
debt was nearly $500,000. This drew interest at six per cent, 
the annual interest being $28,000. Thus we received $20,000 
a year for twenty-five years for the privilege of paying out 
$28,000 annually for all time to come. 

274. The Winnebago War. — In the summer of 1827 oc- 
curred an incident, which is usually spoken of lightly by his- 
torians. It was known at the time as the Winnebago war or 
the Winnebago scare. But however lightly we may treat the 
matter now, it was one of deep concern to those upon the 
borders of civilization around Galena in 1827. The story may 
be briefly told. The Winnebago Indians occupied the lands 
in the southwestern part of what is now Wisconsin. The 
whites in their search for load were continually trespassing 
upon this territory. Though the Winnebagoes were friendly 



A Student's History of Illinois. 243 

to the whites, they remonstrated with the latter without suc- 
cess. Eventually some whites were killed. The killing of the 
whites is said to have resulted from incorrect information com- 
ing to Red Bird, the Winnebago chief, as to the death of four 
of his warriors by Colonel Snelling, commandant at Fort 
Snelling. Two keel boats returning from Fort Snelling were 
attacked on the Mississippi probably about the region of Bad 
Axe creek. Two boatmen were killed and others wounded. 
The Winnebagoes sent word throughout the country to exter- 
minate the whites. It was this word which reached north- 
western Illinois about Galena and spread consternation far 
and wide. It is said 3,000 whites fled to Galena, a nourishing 
mining town, for protection. 

Governor Edwards was appealed to and immediately dis- 
patched a regiment of militia from Sangamon and Morgan 
counties under command of Col. T. M. Neale. General At- 
kinson, of the United States army, with 600 regulars appeared 
upon the scene and quieted the disturbance without any blood- 
shed. Several prominent Indians were arrested and tried, 
those found guilty of murder were executed, the others turned 
loose. Black Hawk was among those liberated. 

Governor Edwards closed his term as chief executive of 
Illinois amid expressions of satisfaction from the people. He 
turned over the office to his successor in December, 1830, and 
retired to his home in Belleville where he died in 1833. His 
life had been indeed a very active one, he having held political 
office nearly a quarter of a century. 



244 A Student's History of Illinois. 



CHAPTEE XXVII. 



EXPANSION. 



275. Population Centers. — In the settlement of a new 
country as was the case in Illinois, the population moves first 
toward a center and later away from such a center. To un- 
derstand this matter let us recall some centers of population 
in Illinois in an early day. 

The first centers to which our minds go were Kaskaskia 
and Cahokia. From these there grew up in the American 
Bottom the villages of Xew Chartres, St. Phillipe Prairie du 
Eocher, and Prairie du Pont. St. Clair county, whose lands 
lie partly in the American Bottom, was early settled, and the 
wonderful fertility of the soil was at that time as well known 
in western Europe as in the Xew England states. When Gen- 
eral Clark came to Kaskaskia in 1778, he had with him some- 
thing like a hundred and seventy-five men. Many of these 
were men of excellent character and of clear intellects. They 
were with Clark at Kaskaskia, Cahokia, and the neighboring 
regions more than a year. In that time many of them be- 
came quite well acquainted with the topography of the coun- 
try. "When the war was over and they returned to their homes 
in Kentucky, the Carolinas, and Viriginia, they remembered 
the unsurpassed fertility of the soil in the American Bottom, 
and the grandeur and beauty of the Father of Waters. And 
the understanding that eventually Virginia was to give to each 
soldier a grant of land in this western country in payment for 
his services, induced many to return to St. Clair and Madison 
counties. 

When the settlements began to spread into the adjacent 
regions as early as 1802, settlers from Kaskaskia had already 



A Student's History of Illinois. 245 

gone over on the Big Muddy river, and by 1807, it is said 
there were twenty-four families in that immediate vicinity. 

By 1814, Conrad Will, a very noted pioneer, was making 
salt on the Big Muddy river and had laid out the town of 
Brownsville at the salt works. This became the future capi- 
tal of Jackspn county and here was chartered a branch bank 
as early as 1820. 

276. Kaskaskia. — From Kaskaskia and Cahokia also the 
settlements spread into what is now St. Clair and Madison 
counties. Ephraim O'Connor settled Goshen six miles south- 
west of Edwardsville in 1800. He was followed by Col. Sam- 
uel Judy who lived in the Goshen settlement till about 1840. 
This locality was situated on Cahokia creek and near«Hhe 
bluffs. It was a widely known settlement. By 1812 quite a 
number of families had come to this region and when the war 
broke out Fort Russell was built near the present site of 
Edwardsville. 

The Badgley settlement is one of the oldest in St. Clair 
county outside of the French settlements. It was settled about 
1810. In 1815 two German families by the name of Markee 
settled in Dutch Hollow, a canyon in the bluffs and thus laid 
the foundation for that large German population which St. 
Clair has always had. Rock Springs, eight and one-half miles 
northeast of Belleville, was settled by the Rev. John M. Peck 
in 1820*. It was at a spring on the old trail from Vincennes 
to St. Louis. For many years this was an important center 
of influence. 

277. Shawneetown. — Shawneetown, the place of debarka- 
tion of the Ohio river travel, destined for Kaskaskia or St. 
Louis, was a center from which radiated north and west move- 
ments of population. There was a ferry here as early as 1800 
or 1802. This accommodated the Kentucky people who pa- 
tronized the salt works at Equality. At this place was also a 
center of population from which people went into adjacent lo- 
calities to settle. 



246 A Student's History of Illinois. 

278. Mt. Vernon. — Mt. Vernon in Jefferson county was 
settled by Zadoc Casey in 1817, -and from that time on it was 
a center from which the population spread. It was on one 
of the trails from Kaskaskia to Vincennes and a great many 
people passed here even in an early day. The road from Fort 
Massac to Kaskaskia passed through Franklin county; and 
Frankfort, now called Old Frankfort, was settled at a very 
early date. 

Albion, in Edwards county, has already been referred to. 

279. Vandalia. — This town was laid out and became the 
capital in 1820. It was far to the north of any settlement at 
that time but the location of the capital there and the general 
notion that this would eventually be an important city were 
the causes of its rapid growth. Vandalia soon became an im- 
portant center around which settlements grew up in increasing 
circles. 

The Sangamon Country has already been spoken of and 
we need not speak of it again at this time. Morgan county 
as we know it today was a portion of what in a very early day 
was called the Sangamon Country. Diamond Grove Prairie 
and vicinity some two or three miles southwest of Jackson- 
ville was the center of the settlements in this county, although 
it is said that Elisha and Seymour Kellogg were the first 
white settlers in the limits of the county, and they settled on 
Mauvaisterre creek in 1818. In 1820 there were about twen- 
ty-one families in the county. 

280. Military Bounty Lands. — This included originally 
all the lands between the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, and 
was limited north and south by latitudes 38 degrees 54 minutes 
and 41 degrees 40 minutes. That is, on the south by the 
junction of the rivers and on the north by the parallel of 41 
degrees and 40 minutes. This tract was set aside as the lands 
out of which the government was to pay the soldiers who 
fought in the war of 1812. A very large share of this bounty 
land was granted to soldiers who never came to settle on their 



A Student's History of Illinois. 247 

claims, and often did not keep the taxes paid and the lands 
shortly fell to the State. Many sold their certificates to spec- 
ulators and thus large quantities of the land were held by 
companies. However, as early as 1817, a Frenchman by the 
name of Tebo settled on the Illinois river on the west side 
about where the Griggsville landing is. In 1820 several lo- 
cated in what is now Atlas township. In 1821 the county was 
organized with perhaps fewer than 100 white people in the 
territory. In the vote on slavery in 1824 Pike county cast 
184 votes which indicates a population of probably 800 or 
more. Prior to this vote the county of Fulton had been cut 
off from Pike. Fulton cast sixty-five votes in 1824, showing 
a population of 300 souls. 

281. Peoria. — Another center from which radiated a great 
many settlements was Peoria. This point was first occupied 
by Indians. When La Salle came down the Illinois the first 
time in the winter of 1679-80, he found here a very large en- 
campment. Here he built Fort Crevecceur. Probably there 
were whites here at different times from that date till the date 
usually given as that of the permanent settlements, but they 
were traders, trappers, hunters, and voyagers. The first per- 
manent house was built about the year 1778. The place was 
called La Ville de Maillet, and was afterward changed to 
Peoria. The village occupied by the French was burned in 
1812 by Captain Craig, and the French inhabitants brought 
to a point below Alton and landed in the woods — men, women, 
and children, without food or shelter. ITnited States troops 
occupied the place in 1813 and built a block house and called 
it Fort Clark. This now became a nucleus around which 
settlements began to cluster. 

In 1819 Abner Eads, Josiah Fulton, Seth Fulton, Samuel 
Dougherty, Thomas Russell, Joseph Hersey, and John Davis 
arrived at Fort Clark from the vicinity of St. Louis. Mr. 
Eads soon brought his family and the other pioneers boarded 
with Mr. Eads. The first store was erected by John Hamlin, 



248 A Student's History of Illinois. 

who was agent for the American Fur Company. As late as 
1832 there were only twenty-two buildings in the town. 

By reason of the location of Fort Clark at Peoria and the 
presence of United States troops, there was security of life 
and property in this military tract. Adams county was set- 
tled as early as 1820. John Wood, who afterwards became 
governor, and Willard Keys settled in what is now Adams 
county, in that year. In 1822, Wood commenced laying off 
the city of Quincy. Adams county was organized in 1824. 
Quincy was made the county seat ; four men and two women 
constituted the entire adult population. 

282. Galena. — Lead was discovered in Jo Daviess county 
as early as 1700. Article III. of the grant by Louis, King of 
France, to M. Crozat in 1712, September 24, is as follows: 

We permit him to search for. open and dig all sorts of mines, 
veins and minerals throughout the whole extent of the said Louisi- 
ana, and to transport the profits thereof into any part of France 
during the said fifteen years: and we grant in perpetuity to him, 
his heirs, and others claiming under him or them the property of, 
in and to the mines, veins and minerals, which he shall bring to 
bear, paying us, in lieu of all claim the fifth part of the gold and 
silver, which the said Sieur Crozat shall cause to be transported to 
Fiance. . . .and the tenth part of what effects he shall draw from 
the other mines, veins, and minerals which tenth he shall transfer 
and convey to our magazine in the said country of Louisiana. 

This shows that the notion was abroad that this Louisiana 
country was rich in minerals. Crozat brought with him "the 
necessary miners and mining tools, some slaves from the West 
India Islands and other laborers and artisans and pursued 
more or less diligently his explorations for the precious met- 
als.' 7 His search for minerals and metals was a failure and 
in 1717 he surrendered his grant to the King. The whole 
territory was then re-granted, this time to the Company of 
the West. Tin's company made Phillip Renault director gen- 
eral of mines. He left for America with 200 mechanics, la- 
borers, and assay ers. On his way he purchased 500 negro 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



249 



slaves for working the mines. It was the current belief m 
France at this time that the Mississippi region was a vast, 
rich, but undeveloped mine of all the useful and precious 
metals. There can be little doubt that the explorers con- 
nected with Phillip Renault's expedition knew that lead was 




Old Lead Mine near Galena. 



to be had on the upper parts of the Mississippi river. Pos- 
sibly the lead mines of Jo Daviess county were worked by this 

company. 

283. First Settlers.— The first white settler in the region 
of the lead mines of Jo Daviess was a man named Bouthillier, 
who settled about where Galena is, in 1820. About this time 
John Shull and Dr. A. C. Muer established a trading post. 
A. P. Tan Meter and one Fredericks came in 1821. The gov- 
ernment sent Lieutenant Thomas to have charge of the mines, 
and in 1823 one James Johnson arrived from Kentucky with 
sixty negro slaves to work in the mines. By 1826 the locality 



250 A Student's History of Illinois. 

had 150 inhabitants, and from this time forward the growth 
was very rapid. 

We thus see that as early as 1825 and not later than 1830 
there were as many as fifteen or twenty centers from which 
there were spreading settlements in nearly all directions. With 
the spread of settlements came the opening of roads, the erec- 
tion of grist and sawmills, the building of blockhouses, court- 
houses, and jails. 

284. Religion. — The expansion was not only in the matter 
of making new settlements but along with this went a steady 
growth in all the lines of the life of a pioneer people. Churches 
were organized everywhere. Houses of worship were not al- 
ways built where congregations were organized, but services 
were held more or less regularly. 

285. Presbyterianism. — As early as 1820, April 20, a 
Presbyterian church was organized at Turkey Hill, a settle- 
ment four miles southeast of Belleville. This was said to be 
one of the oldest American settlements in St. Clair county. 
As early as 1798 Wm. Scott, Samuel Shook, and Franklin 
Jarvis, settled this locality. The Kaskaskia Presbyterian 
church was organized May 27, 1821, with nine members. The 
organization was later moved to Chester. While in Kaskaskia 
it was a very flourishing organization and contained some of 
the best people in the locality. The leading spirit in that 
church seems to have been the Rev. John M. Ellis. He was 
consecrated to the cause of missions and education. In 1828 
he wrote from Jacksonville, Illinois : "A seminarv of learn- 
ing is projected to go into operation next fall. The subscrip- 
tion now stands $2,000 or $3,000. The site is in this county." 
A half section of land was purchased one-half mile north of 
Diamond Grove, which was probably intended to serve as a 
source of support for worthy students. This movement later 
attracted the attention of seven young men in Yale Univer- 
sity and resulted in the raising of $10,000, in the east and the 



A Student's History of Illinois. 251 

coming of Theron Baldwin and Julien M. Sturtevant, and 
the founding of the Illinois College. 

The Rev. John Mathews, a Presbyterian preacher, arrived 
in Illinois as early as 1817. He organized a church in Pike 
county soon thereafter, with eighteen members. He was 
known all over Illinois and Missouri and lived to the ripe age 
of eighty-four years. He was an active preacher for fifty 
years. 

The Presbyterians under the leadership of the Rev. David 
Choate Proctor, organized what was known as the Wabash 
church, in Edwards county. Thomas Gould and family came 
to the "Timbered Settlements/' which was in the northeast 
quarter of what is now Wabash county, ten miles from Mt. 
Carmel, in 1816. He was followed by Cyrus Danforth, 
Stephen Bliss, and George May. The first Sunday-school in 
Illinois was held in the home of May and Bliss April 11, 1819. 

In Greene county, as early as April 30, 1823, a Presbyte- 
rian church with twenty-one members, was organized in the 
court house in Carrollton by the Revs. Oren Catlin and Daniel 
G. Sprague. Several of these members lived north of Apple 
creek some five miles, so that eventually another church was 
organized in White Hall. The Carrollton church worshiped 
in the court house or in a blacksmith shop, and frequently 
with members in their own homes. Paris, Edgar county, had 
a church as early as November 6, 1824. The membership 
numbered twelve. The Rev. Isaac Reed, a Presbyterian min- 
ister from Crawibrdsville, Indiana, preached. Methodist 
preachers had visited the settlement and had preached, but 
had not tried to organize a church. 

The Rev. Elbridge Gerry Howe travelled over the State 
in 1824 and 1830 and preached as he travelled. The Rev. 
J. M. Peck says he saw him in 1825 and that he was a green 
yankee, and that his wife was the smarter of the two. He 
contracted to minister to all the Presbyterian churches in 
Greene, Morgan, and Sangamon for $300 a year. He could 



252 A Student's History of Illinois. 

not collect his money and in a short time was in destitute cir- 
cumstances in Springfield, where the women of the town min- 
istered to his wife's necessities. 

286. Missionaries. — Shawneetown, one of the oldest towns 
anywhere on the east side of the State, was very early visited 
by missionaries and travelling preachers. It was the point 
where the overland journey began on the way from the Upper 
Ohio to Kaskaskia or to St. Louis. 

Or if the travellers came overland from Kentucky or the 
Carolinas, they crossed the Ohio at either Golconda or Shaw- 
neetown as the only ferries that crossed the river were at those 
two points. This town was begun in 1800 as nearly as can 
be ascertained. The cabins were of a very inferior grade. The 
land had not been surveyed and the settlers "squatted" where- 
ever their choice of a building site led them. The houses 
were probably of the character built by the Indians and early 
French — walls of sticks, grasses, and mud, while the roof was 
thatched with the swamp grasses which grew in abundance 
near. In 1812-13 the government surveyed the town and 
there was quite an adjustment of claims to lots. Tradition 
says they burned their old log school house for a bonfire when 
they heard the news that Jackson had whipped the British at 
New Orleans. It is very certain that after the survey by the 
government they erected better houses. But the newer ones 
were not very substantial homes. A Mr. Low was in Shaw- 
neetown in January, 1818, and of the moral and religious 
aspect he writes : "Among its two or three hundred inhabi- 
tants there was not a single soul that made any pretentions to 
religion. Their shocking profaneness was enough to make 
one afraid to walk the street ; and those who on the Sabbath 
were not fighting and drinking at the taverns and grog-shops 
were either hunting in the woods or trading behind their 
counters. A small audience gathered to hear the missionary 
preach. But even a laborer who could devote his whole time 
to the field might almost as soon expect to hear the stones cry 



A Student's History of Illinois. 253 

out as to expect a revolution in the morals of the place/' Mr. 
Thomas Lippincott, who was for some time editor of the 
"Edwardsville Spectator/' and who later was one of the trus- 
tees of Illinois College, passed through Shawneetown with his 
wife in 1818, and says of it : "We found a village not very 
prepossessing; the houses, with one exception being set up 
on posts several feet from the earth. The periodical overflow 
of the river accounts for this." 

Mrs. John Tillson passed through Shawneetown in No- 
vember, 1822, and was very observing, as the following shows: 

Our hotel, the only brick house in the place, (evidently the Rawl- 
ings House.) made quite a commanding appearance from the river, 
towering, as it did, among the twenty — more or less — log cabins and 
the three or four box-looking frames. One or two of these were 
occupied as stores; one was a doctor's office; a lawyer's shingle 
graced the corner of one ; cakes and beer another. The hotel lost its 
significance, however, on entering its doors. The finish was of the 
cheapest kind, the plastering hanging loose from the walls, the floors 
carpetless, except with nature's carpeting — with that they were 
richly carpeted. The landlord was a whiskey keg in the morning, 
and a keg of whiskey at night ; stupid and gruff in the morning, by 
noon could talk politics and abuse Yankees, and by sundown was 
brave for a fight. His wife kept herself in the kitchen ; his daugh- 
ters, one married and two single, performed the agreeable to stran- 
gers ; the son-in-law putting on the airs of a gentleman, presided 
at the table, carving the pork, dishing out the cabbage, and talking 
big about his political friends. His wife, being his wife, he seemed 
to regard a notch above the other branches of the famly, and had 
her at his right hand at the table where she sat with her long curls, 
and with the baby in her lap. Baby always seemed to be hungry 
while mammy was eating her dinner, and so little honey took dinner 
at the same time. Baby didn't have any table-cloth — new manners 
to me. 

The first organized church began its work December, 1823, 
it is said with six women as the congregation. They first met 
in the Seabolt property — the site of the Riverside Hotel. 

Jacksonville was laid off in 1825. In 1827 the Rev. John 
Brich organized a PreslMerian church. The place of meet- 



254 A Student's History of Illinois. 

ing was in a barn belonging to Judge John Leeper, a mile 
southeast of town. The Rev. John M. Ellis was settled as pas- 
tor in 1828. This chureh is said to have been a great center 
from which radiated far reaching influences in the spread of 
the gospel. 

The same Rev. John M. Ellis organized a Presbyterian 
church in Springfield in 1828. The settled pastor was the 
Rev. John G-. Bergen, formerly of New Jersey. This congre- 
gation built the first brick church home in the State in 
1829-30. It was dedicated in November, 1830. The pastor 
organized the first temperance society in the State in Spring- 
field. The Rev. Mr. Ellis organized a church in Hillsboro in 
1828, with two members John Tillson, Jr., and Mrs. Margaret 
Seward. 

In 1828, the Rev. Solomon Hardy organized a church in 
Vandalia, of eight members. This church built a modest 
building and placed therein a bell, the gift of Romulus Riggs, 
of Philadelphia. The Illinois Monthly Magazine of Decem- 
ber 30. 1830, says: "The bell was hung November 5, 1830 
....it is the first public bell introduced into the State by 
American inhabitants/' Several years ago the bell was given 
to the Brownstown church, eight miles east of Vandalia. 

Within the limits of Illinois there had been organized, 
up to 1830, twenty-eight Presbyterian churches. There were 
also at that date sixteen Presbyterian ministers located in the 
State. 

287. Methodism. — This faith made its advent into Illinois 
at a very early date. We have in a previous chapter called 
attention to the work of a number of early preachers of that 
faith. 

The regular work of this church did not begin until the 
beginning of the past century. This religious body has a 
somewhat different plan of work from the Presbyterian 
church and for that reason we cannot fix dates so easily as 



A Student's History of Illinois. 255 

in a study of the latter. The class leader in the earlier Meth- 
odist organization supplied the lack of a regular pastor. 

The Reverend Beauchamp, a much loved minister in the 
Methodist church, was located in Chillicothe, Ohio, in 1816. 
He was induced by the people of Mt. Carmel to come to their 
town, to which he removed in 1817. He labored here faith- 
fully for about four years when he was obliged to give up his 
preaching and retire to a farm. While in the active work of 
preaching in Mt. Carmel he announced the services by the 
blowing of a trumpet instead of by the ringing of a bell. 

The work of the Rev. Jesse Walker of the Methodist 
church has been noted in a previous chapter. He came to 
Illinois in 1806 and organized churches in various places. In 
1807 he organized a church on the Illinois river of some sixty 
members — all the people in the settlement. He died in Chi- 
cago in 1834. 

Where two or three families could be found who were of 
the Methodist persuasion, a class leader would conduct the 
public devotional service. From this fact a church may be 
spoken of when there had been no regularly organized church 
machinery set in motion. 

As early as 1817, Zadoc Casey emigrated from Sumner 
county, Tennessee, and settled on a farm near the present city 
of Mt. Vernon, Jefferson county. He founded the town of 
Mt. Vernon in 1818 or 19. He was a member of the Metho- 
dist church and was an active worker in that organization. He 
was a local preacher in Jefferson county for forty years, and 
was a man of widespread influence. 

288. The Baptists. — This church had many earnest preach- 
ers in Illinois in the early years of the nineteenth century. 
Among them was one Rev. John Clark. He had for two years 
been connected with the Methodists but becoming dissatis- 
fied with some of the methods of that body he withdrew his 
membership from that organization. He came to the settle- 
ments on the American Bottom in 1797 and from that date 



256 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



till 1833, when he died, he was a tireless worker in the church. 
He taught school and was generally called Father Clark. He 
was the first Protestant preacher to cross the Mississippi into 
the Spanish Territory. This he did in 1798. He eventually 
took up his residence in Missouri, but carried on his work in 
Illinois with great success. 

Elder Wm. Jones came to Rattan's Prairie, near Alton, 
in 1806. He was very active in building local Baptist churches 
in the vicinity of Alton, till his death in 1845. 

Another early Baptist preacher was Rev. James Lemen. 
He was indebted to Father Clark for both his education and 
his religious fervor. He was a staunch opponent of slavery 
and was bold enough to express his opposition in the pulpit, 
which gave offense to some. 

By 1807 there was a Baptist Association in the region 
around Alton and Edwardsville. It included five well or- 
ganized churches. New Design, four miles south of Water- 
loo ; Mississippi Bottom ; Richland, in St. Clair county ; 
Wood River, in Madison county; and Silver Creek, in Bond 
or St. Clair. There were three ordained preachers for these 
five churches, and sixty-two members. In 1809 six more 
preachers were ordained and there was a proportionate growth 
in membership. 




The First Court House in Chicago, 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



257 




GOVERNOR JOHN REYNOLDS. 



J830-J834. 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 



JOHN REYNOLDS, A PIONEER GOVERNOR. 

289. A Willing Candidate.— In the summer of 1830 the 
sovereign people of Illinois were called on to choose a chief ex- 
ecutive for the commonwealth, together with such other offices 
for State and county as the constitution of 1818 permitted. 
The constitution prohibited a governor from succeeding him- 
self and so it came about that Governor Edwards was not a 
candidate for re-election. 

When the constitution of 1818 was framed, provision was 
made for the choosing of the judges of the supreme court by 



258 A Student's History of Illinois. 

the legislature. The first legislature met and elected the two 
United States senators and then proceded to fill such offices 
as were provided for in the constitution. Eeynolds says that 
he himself was not particularly interested in politics at this 
time, and did not attend the convention when the constitution 
was under process of construction. But when the legislature 
was in session he was prevailed on by his friends to go down 
to Kaskaskia (he lived at Cahokia) and observe the legislative 
proceedings. "I had not been in only a few days when it was 
urged upon me to know if I would accept of a judgeship if 
I was elected. This broke in on me like a clap of thunder. 
I was in truth persuaded to become a candidate for office.'' 

He was elected a member of the supreme court and held 
this office till the election to the legislature in the fall of 
1826. He failed of re-election, as he himself says, because 
he had been rather conspicuous in favor of the convention. 
However, he was elected a member of the lower house of the 
general assembly in the summer of 1826, and served till his 
election to the governorship. After serving four years as 
governor he was elected to congress in 1834, and later served 
two terms in the general assembly. It would therefore seem 
that the "clap of thunder'' which "broke in on" him in Kas- 
kaskia made a pretty good office seeker of him. 

290. The Campaign. — In the contest for governor in 1830, 
Mr. Eeynolds was opposed by the Eev. William Kinney, who 
had served as lieutenant governor under Governor Edwards. 
Mr. Kinney was one of the old sort of Baptist preachers ; his 
morality was not of that pinched up kind which prevented him 
from using all the common arts of a candidate for office. It 
is said he went electioneering with a bible in one pocket and 
a bottle of whiskey in the other; and thus armed with "the 
sword of the Lord and the spirit" he went forth. From the de- 
scription of the campaign as given by Ford there was not a 
very great difference between the campaign methods of those 
days and those of today. Whiskey flowed freely, stump 



A Student's History of Illinois. 259 

speeches were the order of the day, and cursing, whooping, 
yelling, huzzaing and fighting ended up the day's campaign. 
Ford further says of Kinney : "Mr. Kinney had the name of 
being a whole hog, thorough-going original Jackson man. 
They did not so much vote for Reynolds as against Kinney/' 
This is a pretty bad picture of the good old days for which our 
oldest inhabitant is often heard sighing. 

291. Mr. Reynolds,— Of Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Ford says he 
had a good, natural, easy-going disposition and was a good 
mixer. "He had received a classical education and was a man 
of good talents in his own peculiar way; but no one would 
suppose from hearing his conversation and public addresses 
that he had ever learned more than to read and write and 
cipher to the rule of three." He is represented as being 
coarse and even vulgar in the use of all sorts of backwoods 
expressions of which he seems to have had a very large sup- 
ply. "He had a kind heart and was always ready to do a 
favor and never harbored resentment against a human being." 

Reynolds says : "It was the universal custom of the time 
to treat with liquor. We both did it ; but he was condemned 
for it more than myself, by the religious community, he being 
a preacher of the gospel." 

In this canvass the newspapers took quite an active part. 
Mr. Kinney had the support of The Illinois Intelligencer, pub- 
lished at Vandalia. It was edited by Judge James Hall, 
formerly of Shawneetown. Governor Reynolds had four pa- 
pers supporting him, all of which were very ably edited — one 
at Shawneetown, edited by Colonel Eddy, one at Edwardsville 
edited by Judge Smith, one at Kaskaskia edited by Judge 
Breese, and one at Springfield edited by Forquer and Ford. 
Mr. Reynolds says that a miner's journal published at Galena 
also supported him. 

In this canvass national politics entered as a very potent 
factor. It was folly for any man who was an anti-Jackson 
man to offer himself for public office. There were anti-Jack- 



260 A Student's History of Illinois. 

son men, but they were greatly in the minority. Reynolds 
calls them the Whigs. Both Reynolds and Kinney were Jack- 
son men, but the anti-Jackson men favored Reynolds as the 
lesser of two evils. It thus turned out that Reynolds was 
elected, the vote standing, Reynolds 12,937, while Kinney re- 
ceived 9,038. 

The candidates for lieutenant governor were Zadoc Casey 
and Rigdon B. Slocumb. Mr. Casey ran on the Kinney ticket 
and Mr. Slocumb on the Reynolds ticket. Mr. Casey was a 
Methodist local preacher who lived at Mt. Vernon and was a 
man who stood very high in the localities where he was known. 
He was elected. 

292. The New Governor. — At this election the seventh 
general assembly was also elected. The legislature met De- 
cember 6, 1830, and organized. The new governor began his 
term under very favorable circumstances. Some writers have 
spoken disparagingly of Governor Reynolds' inaugural mes- 
sage, but when carefully studied it appears a plain, sensible, 
patriotic state paper. It may lack the polish of former or 
later messages, but what Governor Reynolds had in his heart 
to say, he said in unmistakable language. He called atten- 
tion to the rapid increase in population. He complimented 
the immigrants upon their enterprise and good judgment, and 
congratulated the people of the State upon the accession to its 
population of so desirable a class of citizens. He formally 
discussed the following subjects as being those upon which he 
hoped they might legislate. 

293. The Message. — Education. "In the whole circle of 
your legislation, there is no subject that has a greater claim 
upon your attention or calls louder for your aid than that 
of education." 

Internal Improvement. "There cannot be an appropria- 
tion of money within the exercise of your legislative powers 
that will be more richly paid to the citizens than that for the 
improvement of the country." 



A Student's History of Illinois. 261 

The Penitentiary. Governor Reynolds had, while a mem- 
ber of the fifth general assembly, succeeded in getting a bill 
through providing for the building of a penitentiary. He 
was able to say the work had progressed quite satisfactorily 
and that twenty-five cells were nearing completion, and he 
hoped the legislature would take such action as would carry 
the enterprise to completion. 

The Salines. The Salines and their reservations had been 
virtually given to the State by the action of congress in pass- 
ing the enabling act. The State had had charge of the Sa- 
lines since 1818 and very little income had been realized from 
them. He was very desirous that they should be so managed 
as to result in a source of income to the State. 

294. The State Bank. — The charter incorporating the 
State bank of Illinois was passed in 1821. The charter was 
to continue ten years. The capital was $500,000. There was 
one parent bank at Vandalia and four branch banks — one at 
Edwardsville, one at Brownsville, one at Shawneetown, one at 
Albion. The charter of this bank expired January 1, 1831. 
The end of the bank came therefore in Reynold's term as gov- 
ernor. The State had lost about $100,000 in this banking 
business, and must in some way meet this indebtedness. 

Finally, a loan was obtained of a Mr. Wiggins, of Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio, of $100,000 and the affairs of the bank wound 
up. This was known as "the Wiggins loan" and was for 
many years a great torment to the legislators who author- 
ized it. 

At the close of the session of 1831, the State borrowed 
$20,000 with which to pay the current expenses of the session, 
and to meet other expenses of the State. 

295. The Deep Snow.— The winter of 1830-1 was long re- 
membered as "the winter of the deep snow." It is said that 
the winter was a mild one till Christmas. During the Christ- 
mas holidays a snow storm began and for nine weeks, almost 
every day, it snowed. The snow melted little or none and 



262 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



was found to be more than three feet on an average. It was, 
however, drifted very badly in some places. The old fash- 
ioned "stake and rider" fences were buried in many places 
with the drifted snow. The long country lanes were covered 
over so that no sign of the road was left. On top of this 
snow fell rain and sleet and formed such a crust that people 
and stock might walk on top of the snow. The birds and 
small game suffered very much for want of food, while larger 
wild game became very tame. 




be £ 



J$ 



« a 

•2- 

.si 
•a .^ 

d 



A Student's History of Illinois. 263 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

THE BLACK HAWK WAR. 

296. Treaty.— In 1804, November 3, at St. Louis, Wm. 
Henry Harrison, at that time governor of the Indiana Terri- 
tory, on behalf of the United States, signed a treaty with 
the Sac and Fox Indians by which the said tribes ceded to the 
United States about 15,000,000 acres of land. A portion of 
the land lay in Illinois northwest of the Illinois river, while 
a large portion lay in southwestern Wisconsin. The United 
States government agreed to take the Sac and Fox tribes into 
its friendship and protection, and to pay annually $1,000 in 
goods to the two tribes. It was further agreed that these 
tribes should remain on the lands till the said lands were dis- 
posed of. It was mutually agreed that no private revenge 
should be taken for wrongs but that offenders should be turned 
over to the proper authorities. Citizens of the United States 
were not to make settlements on this ceded territory. Xo 
traders should live among the Indians except those authorized 
by the United States, etc. 

The treaty was signed by Wm. H. Harrison on behalf of 
the United States and by five chiefs on behalf of the two 
tribes. It was witnessed by nine officers and citizens of the 
United States and by two sworn interpreters. Black Hawk 
with whom we shall deal in this chapter, said the chiefs who 
signed the treaty were made drunk and that they were not au- 
thorized to cede this land. It should also be kept in mind 
that the territory ceded is also the home of two other large 
tribes, the Winnebagoes and the Pottowatomies. 

297. War of 1812.— The British greatly influenced the 
Indians in the northwest, and the two were allies in the war 



264 A Student's History of Illinois. 

from 1812-1815. At the close of this war, the Sacs and Foxes 
entered into another treaty with the United States. Black 
Hawk did not sign this treaty which, it was hoped, would se- 
cure peace. 

298. Treaty of 1830. — Upon the admission of Illinois in 
1818 the settlers hegan to flock into the State and within the 
next ten years the settlers began to encroach upon the lands 
actually occupied by the Sac and Fox tribes. The Winnebago 
war occurred in the summer of 1827. Among the Indians 
who were held responsible for this was Black Hawk, a very 
prominent Indian of the Sac and Fox tribes. He and several 
more Indians were arrested and held in prison for several 
months. Some of the offenders were adjudged guilty and exe- 
cuted, others were turned loose, among whom w T as Black 
Hawk. In 1830, a treaty was executed at Prairie du Chien 
in which the Sac and Fox Indians under the leadership of 
Keokuk ceded all the lands east of the Mississippi river to 
the United States. Black Hawk had nothing to do with this 
treaty. 

299. Saukenuk. — The seventh article of the treaty of 
1804 provided that the Indians should remain around Rock 
river till the United States disposed of the land. In 1826 or 
thereabouts the government purveyed and sold quite a number 
of plats of land in and about the village of Saukenuk, and the 
whites began to come in. In the fall of 1830 the Indians 
went on their annual hunt and while absent during the winter, 
heard the whites were occupying their village. This village 
contained about 500 cabins of very good construction capable 
of sheltering 6,000 people. 

In the early spring of 1831 when they returned to that 
locality, they found the whites in their village. In the mean- 
time Keokuk was doing what he could to induce his people to 
remain on the west side of the Mississippi and to find homes 
there. And more than likely at the same time Black Hawk 
was doing his best to persuade them to return to their old 



A Student's History of Illinois. 265 

village. At least this was what was done. Black Hawk, with 
a great number of women, children and 300 warriors returned 
and occupied their village of Saukenuk. Of course this meant 
trouble, for the whites were also occupying the same village. 
Seeing that they could not drive off the Indians the whites 
agreed to occupy the village jointly and to share the tillable 
land, about 700 acres. The whites, however, took the best 
land and in this way showed their contempt for the Indians. 
All sorts of stories began now to reach the governor at Van- 
dalia, and also the U.S. military commandant, General Gaines, 
at St. Louis. The Indian agent at Fort Armstrong also was 
aware of the coming conflict. An appeal was sent to Gov- 
ernor Reynolds stating that the whites had suffered many 
indignities from the Indians and had sustained losses of cat- 
tle, horses, and crops. Probably the facts are, the Indians 
were the greater sufferers. There is good evidence, says 
Brown's History, that the Indians were made drunk and then 
cheated badly in trades; their women were abused and one 
} T oung man beaten so that he died from the effects. 

300. Call to Arms. — Governor Reynolds acted with some 
haste probably and ordered out 700 mounted militiamen. He 
communicated this fact to General Gaines and suggested that 
he, Gaines, might by the exercise of some of his authority or 
diplomacy, induce Black Hawk to move west of the river. 
General Gaines thought the regulars, some 800 or 900 strong 
would be able to handle the difficulty, but the militiamen were 
already on their way to Beardstown, the place of rendezvous. 
General Gaines accompanied by 600 regulars moved up the 
Mississippi and on the 7th of June a council was held between 
General Gaines and Governor Reynolds on the side of the 
whites, and Black Hawk, Keokuk, and twenty-six chiefs and 
headmen upon the part of the Indians. A treaty was agreed 
upon. 

The treaty contained six articles, and provided: 1. That 
Black Hawk and his disgruntled people would submit to Keo- 



266 A Student's History of Illinois. 

kuk and his friendly Indians and re-cross the river to the west 
side. 2. That all lands west of the river claimed by the Sacs 
and Foxes were guaranteed to them. 3. The Indians agreed 
not to hold communication with the British. 4. The United 
States have right to build forts and roads in the Indians' ter- 
ritory. 5. The friendly chiefs agree to preserve order in their 
tribes. 6. Permanent peace was declared. The Indians then 
peaceably withdrew to the west side of the river. The Indians 
were in such distressed condition that General Gaines and 
Governor Reynolds issued large quantities of food to them. 
The army was disbanded and returned home. 

Governor Reynolds himself assumed the active command 
of the militia. The account he gives of the organization and 
movement of his troops would make one think of the cam- 
paigns of a great general. Every man furnished his own 
horse and carried his own gun, if he had one, but hundreds 
appeared at Beardstown without guns. The government had 
sent guns to Beardstown but not enough, so Reynolds bought 
some brass-barreled muskets of a merchant in Beardstown. 
Joseph Duncan, congressman, was made brigadier general, 
and Samuel "Whiteside major to have charge of the spy bat- 
talion. Most of the other officers were elected by the troops. 
The whole army was divided into two regiments and the spy 
battalion. Col. James D. Henry commanded one and Col. 
Daniel Leib the other regiment. The army broke camp near 
Rushville June 15, and in four days reached the Mississippi, 
eight miles below Saukenuk. Here General Gaines received 
the army into the United States service. On account of a 
delay the Indians who occupied the village departed up the 
Rock river. The regulars and militia followed at a safe dis- 
tance. 

Black Hawk eventually crossed over on the west side of 
the Mississippi and the treaty .above referred to was negoti- 
ated. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



267 



301. The Invasion. — The British Band, as Black Hawk 
and his followers were called, remained on the west side till 
the spring of 1832. In the early spring of this year, April 6, 




Reproduced by courtesy and permission of McClure. Phillips & Go. 
from ld.t M. Tarbell's "Life of Lincoln." Copyright 1900. 



Black Hawk. 



Black Hawk and his braves crossed to the east side of the 
Mississippi in spite of the remonstrances of General Atkin- 
son, who was stationed at Fort Armstrong with a few regulars. 
He passed the old village of Saukennk and proceeded up the 
Eock river as if to join the Winnebagoes where he said he 
wished to raise a crop in conjunction with that tribe. General 
Atkinson notified Black Hawk that he was violating his treaty 
and ordered him to return but he did not heed the order. 



268 A Student's History of Illinois. 

This movement on the part of Black Hawk created con- 
sternation among the whites all along the northern frontier 
from the Mississippi to Chicago and the people hastily left 
their homes and took refuge farther south where the popu- 
lation was numerous, and means of defense ample. Many fled 
to Fort Dearborn and remained there till the war closed. 

Governor Eeynolds having been notified of Black Hawk's 
movements and knowing that an indiscretion on the part of 
either the Indians or the whites would lead to serious conse- 
quences, decided to take precautionary measures and avert so 
unfortunate a result. He also received a request from Gen- 
eral Atkinson for troops and on the 16th of April the gov- 
ernor issued a call for a large body of troops. They w r ere to 
assemble at Beardstown on the 22d of April. As in the cam- 
paign of the previous year, Governor Reynolds took the field 
himself. As he passed through the country to Beardstown 
he held conferences and otherwise took the people into his 
confidence. At Jacksonville the governor had word from 
Dixon, in the heart of Pottowatomie country, that war was 
inevitable. On arriving at Beardstown, the governor moved his 
army to a point north of Rushville. Samuel Whiteside was 
made brigadier general in command of four regiments, and 
two irregular batallions. At Beardstown he received more 
news of the hostile attitude of Black Hawk and his band. 

302. The Rendezvous.— When the army was thoroughly 
organized the governor ordered a forward movement on the 
27th of April. The next stop was to be the Yellow Banks, 
which were in Mercer county, on the Mississippi river. Most 
of the troops were on horseback but about 200 men were 
marching as infantry. The roads were very bad and streams 
had to be forded. Eeynolds says that most of the men, 2,000 
in number, were backwoodsmen and were used to such hard- 
ships. When the army reached the Mississippi the provisions 
had not yet arrived from St. Louis and after several davs of 
anxiety three trusty men, Huitt, Tunnell, and Ames, of 



A Student's History of Illinois. 269 

Greene county, were asked if they could reach Rock Island, 
fifty miles away, that day. They undertook the task and de- 
livered to General Atkinson the message from the governor 
on the self-same day. From the Yellow Banks the troops 
marched to Fort Armstrong where they were received into 
the U. SL service. General Atkinson now assumed command 
and the whole body of 500 regulars and 2,000 militia marched 
up Rock river toward Dixon where it was understood Black 
Hawk and his band were. Spies were sent abroad who re- 
ported presently the presence of Black Hawk above Dixon. 
Dixon was reached on the 12th of May. Here other informa- 
tion came to the effect that Black Hawk's band was broken 
up and the men were hunting food. Here also the governor 
found Major Stillman and Major Bailey who had been or- 
dered to guard the frontier. These two majors and their bat- 
talions were anxious to reconnoitre the frontier and if pos- 
sible locate the hostile band. Governor Reynolds therefore 
gave them orders to proceed to "Old Man's creek," where, it 
was reported, there were hostile Indians. 

303. Stillman's Defeat.— On the 13th of May, Major 
Stillman marched out of Dixon with 275 men and with all 
necessary equipment for a contest with the hostile Indians. 
He went some twenty-five miles to the northeast. Here, on 
the evening of the 14th, he crossed a small stream and began 
preparations for the night's camp. Presently three unarmed 
Indians came into camp bearing a flag of truce. And in a 
few moments five more, armed, appeared upon a hill some 
distance away. Many of the soldiers hurriedly remounted 
their horses and gave chase. The Indians gave them a round- 
about chase and finally led them in what appeared to be an 
ambush of fifty or seventy-five of Black Hawk's warriors. As 
soon as the soldiers saw their predicament, they started on a 
retreat a*nd passing through the camp transmitted to those 
there the contagion of flight. All was now confusion, one of 
their number having already been killed (James Doty). They 



270 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



floundered across the creek and in their retreat Captain Ad- 
ams and some fifteen men concluded to make a stand a half 
mile from their camp. It was dark and the fight was a des- 




The Stillman Valley Monument erected by the State to 

commemorate the death of Twelve Soldiers 

Massacred by Indians at that place. 



perate hand to hand struggle. At least nine of Adams' men 
were slain, including the Captain. The retreat continued. 
The earliest ones to reach Dixon came about midnight, and 
they continued to arrive till morning. The dreadful news 
which these men brought from the scene of carnage filled the 
army with terror and gloom. The entire army, or at least 
2,500 men, proceeded to the scene of the defeat. They buried 
eleven of Major Stillman's men. It seems that when the 



A Student's History of Illinois. 271 

Indians had followed the retreating army some distance, they 
returned and mutilated the bodies of Captain Adams' men and 
later went to the camp, broke the spokes from the wagons, 
poured out a keg of whiskey, destroyed the provision, and re- 
turned to their camp. The names of the twelve men who 
sacrificed their lives in this unfortunate expedition are David 
Kreeps, Zadock Mendinall, Isaac Perkins, James Milton, 
Tyrus M. Childs, Joseph B. Farris, Bird W. Ellis, John Wal- 
ters, Joseph Draper, James Doty, Gideon Munson, and Cap- 
tain Adams. 

304. The Army Mustered Out. — The effect of this defeat 
and rout was depressing in the extreme. The volunteers im- 
mediately began to talk of returning to their homes. In fact 
Governor Keynolds says, in "My Own Times' 7 that he wrote 
out the order the night of the defeat, for 2,000 new troops 
and by next morning three trusted men were on their way to 
distribute this call throughout the State. The militiamen be- 
coming impatient, Governor Keynolds and General Atkinson 
plead with the men to stay at least twelve or fifteen days un- 
til the new levies could reach the front. This they finally 
agreed to do. General Atkinson now in command of the 
militia and regulars moved up Bock river, and when some- 
where in the vicinity of the present city of Oregon or prob- 
ably higher up, they received word of a horrible massacre of 
fifteen whites near Ottawa. This, too, was depressing, and 
not finding Black Hawk, General Atkinson and the regulars 
returned to Dixon and General Whiteside and Col. Zachary 
Taylor went in further quest of the warriors. They came to 
an abandoned camp on Sycamore creek where they found sev- 
eral things taken from Major Stillman's camp, but not find- 
ing the Indians the soldiers again became persistent in their 
determination to return to their farms and business. General 



272 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



Whiteside not being himself much in sympathy with further 
pursuit of the Indians, ordered a vote among all command- 



t 

~ CaHSS IB ' v9 


*k Hiis ■»%%. 







Courtesy and permission of Mr. Frank Stevens, 
Author of "The Black Hawk War." 



Indian Creek Monument, erected to commemorate the death of 
Fifteen People Massacred on Indian Creek, about 
fifteen miles northeast of Ottawa. 



ing officers as to what they wished to do. The votes stood 
about half in favor of continuing the campaign and half 
against further service. When the governor became aware of 
the demoralized spirit in the army he ordered them to march 
to Ottawa where they were discharged. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 273 

305. Thirty Day Men. — General Atkinson and Governor 
Reynolds were deeply concerned for the safety of the frontier 
and in addition to the 2,000 men called into service the night 
of the Stillman defeat they yet needed more troops. After 
the muster-out of the men was completed the governor called 
for volunteers and a regiment was enlisted without any loss of 
time for thirty days. Col. Jacob Fry was given command. 

Ottawa and vicinity seemed to be a kind of storm center 
for Indian depredations and many very exciting stories are 
told of personal encounters on the frontier during the sum- 
mer of 1832. The war had degenerated into bushwhacking, 
rapine, and murder. One never knew when a savage was at 
his back. It was therefore the business of this thirty-day reg- 
iment under Col. Jacob Fry to guard the various localities 
till the arrival of the new troops called into service the nighi 
of the Stillman defeat. 

306. First Battle of Kellogg's Grove. — There were in Col- 
onel Fry's regiment seven companies, one of which was com- 
manded by Captain Snyder of St. Clair county. Captain Sny- 
der's company was sent over in the region of Burr Oak Grove 
(called Kellogg's Grove). The Indians were committing dep- 
redations in that region. On the night of June IT he was 
encamped near the above grove. His camp was attacked that 
night, and the next morning his force went in search of the 
attacking parties. They finally overtook the Indians and 
killed four of them. One of Captain Snyder's men was mor- 
tally wounded, and while taking this wounded man to the 
camp the escort was set upon by seventy-five Indians and the 
wounded man was butchered by the savages while two more 
of Snyder's men were killed. A few regulars under Major 
Riley came to Captain Snyder's relief and the Indians fled 
with a loss of four dead. The thirty days enlistment was up 
and Captain Snyder's men were mustered out. 



274 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



The new levies began concentrating at Fort Wilburn near 
Peru in June and the task of organizing them was not an easy 




The Kellogg Grove Monument, marking the site of the 
battles referred to in the text. 



one. Three brigades were formed with Generals Alexander 
Posey, Milton K. Alexander, and James D. Henry in com- 
mand. There were about 1,000 men in each division. They 



A Student's History of Illinois. 275 

were accepted by General Atkinson as United States troops. 
Governor Reynolds used good diplomacy in his appointments 
to the various positions in the army. In addition to the three 
brigades there were two or three independent organizations 
whose duty was to guard the frontier. 

307. Second Battle of Kellogg's Grove. — Major Dement 
with 150 men was sent to guard the region of Kellogg's Grove 
while the main army moved up the Rock river. Major De- 
ment and his men arrived at the Kellogg Grove on Saturday, 
June 21, and took up quarters in some old log houses which 
had been the home of Mr. 0. W. Kellogg. Upon the opening 
of hostilities he had moved nearer Dixon's ferry. They put 
their horses in a lot fenced in with a brush fence. Sunday 
night a Mr. Funk, of McLean county, stayed over night with 
the troops and reported Indians in the vicinity. On the mor- 
row, twenty-five soldiers started in pursuit. They were drawn 
into the edge of the timber by straggling Indians when out 
rushed hundreds of naked savages with their faces blackened. 
The troops fled precipitately to the log huts with scarcely 
time enough to put their horses in the brush lot and get into 
the fort. Four dead were left on the field. All that day the 
Indians circled round, firing continuously into the fort. De- 
ment lost only the four men but had several wounded. The 
Indians seeing they could do no harm to the men in the fort, 
began a slaughter of horses in the brush-fenced lot. Governor 
Reynolds says forty-seven horses were killed at the fort be- 
sides two or three on the battlefield. 

After the battle had raged an hour or so, messengers were 
sent to Dixon for reinforcements. As good fortune would 
have it these messengers met General Posey, who was on his 
way north to the Wisconsin line. General Posey hurried for- 
ward and reached the fort by night and the Indians seeing 
that reinforcements had arrived, slipped away. 



176 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



The Rev. Samuel West- 
brook, whose picture is 
shown, told the writer that 
he was with General Po- 
sey's troops and that there 
were sixty horses killed and 
that they were nearly all 
killed by one Indian who 
was hidden behind a tree. 
This Indian was finally 
killed and the slaughter of 
the horses ceased. 

The next morning after 
the arrival of General Posey 
a grave was dug with toma- 
hawks and knives and the 
four dead soldiers whose 

bodies had been mangled Rev. Samuel Westbrook of Eldorado, 111., 

bevond recognition were 




member of General Posey's regiment. Mr. 
Westbrook was born August 31, 1809, and is 
therefore ninety-seven years old. He is in 
very good health and has very clear memory 
of the incidents of the war. 



buried in one grave. This 
ended the war in that sec- 
tion. Black Hawk was 
present and was probably the commanding spirit in the attack 
upon Captain Snyder as well as the one on Major Dement. 

308. Black Hawk Retreats. — After his defeat at Kel- 
logg's Grove by Major Dement's forces, Black Hawk retreated 
with all his people to the hills of southern Wisconsin. Gen- 
eral Atkinson followed with nearly 4,000 men. Upon reach- 
ing Burnt Village the army halted. Here there seemed so 
much indecison and lack of plan in the campaign that the 
volunteers became much discouraged. Food became scarce 
and desertions were quite the order of the day. 

After some counselling, it was decided to disperse the 
army to obtain food. A strong detachment went to Fort 
Winnebago, at the Wisconsin portage, for supplies. General 



A Student's History of Illinois. 277 

Atkinson returned down Rock river to Kosh-Ko-Nong, Gen- 
eral Posey to Fort Hamilton. Governor Reynolds came to 
his home in Belleville. 

309. Battle of Wisconsin River. — The detachment which 
went to Fort Winnebago under General Dodge and General 
Henry was about ready to return with provisions when they 
received, word that Black Hawk was on Rock River about 
thirty-five miles above the point where General Atkinson was 
in camp. After some conferences among the officers it was 
decided to attack Black Hawk instead of returning to General 
Atkinson as he had ordered. General Henry therefore made 
all preparations for what he thought ought to be the end of 
the campaign. With a very well equipped army of probably 
a thousand men or less, he started in quest of Black Hawk. 
The wily chief knew he was in danger and immediately began 
a retreat, passing by the four lakes where Wisconsin's beau- 
tiful capital is now situated. He was vigorously pushed by 
General Henry. On the bluffs of the Wisconsin river about 
twenty-five miles northwest of Madison the Indians were over- 
taken. 

A desperate stand was made by Black Hawk but at the 
end of the day's fighting lie crossed the river leaving 168 of 
his braves dead upon the field of battle, and twenty-five more 
were found dead between the Wisconsin and the Mississippi. 
General Henry lost but one man killed and eight wounded. 

310. The Pursuit. — General Henry was now without pro- 
vision, deserted by his Indian guides, and in the wilderness. 
While here he received work from General Atkinson to repair 
to the mounds some twenty miles south of west of Madison 
where the regular army would have provisions. The wounded 
were carried on stretchers to that point. After a slight rest 
the army now under General Atkinson crossed the Wisconsin 
at a deserted village called Helena, and started in pursuit of 
the enemy. Black Hawk's band was in a truly deplorable 
condition. They were living on roots, bulbs, and game such 



278 A Student's History of Illinois. 

as could be had, and are said to have killed their horses for 
flesh. Nor were the soldiers in very excellent condition. They 
had provisions, but they slept in open air, tramped through 
swamps, climbed precipitous bluffs, and scrambled through 
briars and dense underbrush. On August 2, 1832, the army 
reached the Mississippi bluffs about forty miles on a straight 
line above the mouth of the Wisconsin river. Here was to be 
enacted the final scene in this tragedy of greed and treachery. 

311. Bad Axe. — The Indians had reached the above point 
a day or so in advance of the army and were busily engaged 
in making preparations to cross. In fact they had already 
sent some of their people over to the west side and were em- 
barking their women and children in canoes to go to Prairie 
du Chien for safety. A part of them were lost on the way 
and those who reached the village were in a starving condi- 
tion. While all this was going on a steamboat, the Warrior, 
coming up the river to bring supplies to General Atkinson's 
army reached the camp August 13. This vessel was prepared 
for battle and upon approaching the camp of Black Hawk 
which was in the valley near the banks of the Mississippi, it 
was hailed with a white flag. The captain ordered the In- 
dians to come along side in a canoe but they refused, and he 
then gave them fifteen minutes to get the women and chil- 
dren out of danger. He then fired a six-pounder into their 
midst and a battle of an hour followed. The vessel returned 
to Prairie du Chien and remained over night. As a result 
of this attack by the boat, twenty-three of Black Hawk's men 
lay dead in the valley. 

On the morning of the 2d of August the army appeared 
on the bluffs overlooking the valley and the Indian encamp- 
ment. Black Hawk, to shield the operations which were go- 
ing on for crossing the river, took twenty warriors and en- 
gaged the army on the bluffs and then retreated up the river 
with the purpose of misleading General Atkinson. This 
worked to perfection for the regulars, the Wisconsin contin- 



A Student's History of Illinois. 279 

gent, and some of the Illinois militia set off post haste after 
Black Hawk leaving only General Henry and Major Ewing. 
When the commanding general and the troops were gone, 
Henry and Ewing moved down the bluffs and across the val- 
ley and presently discovered the Indians near the river bank 
where they had been attacked by the steamboat the day be- 
fore. General Henry and the Indians were soon engaged 
and as General Henry's soldiers pushed forward with fixed 
bayonets the poor savages w r ere shot down, bayoneted, or 
driven into the river. There were about 300 braves, and in 
Henry's little band about 300 soldiers. During all this time 
General Atkinson had been decoyed off up the river and re- 
turned only when General Henry had finished the work of 
annihilating the Indians. It is estimated that 150 Indians 
lost their lives in trying to swim the river, 150 were killed, a 
few got safely across to the west side, fifty women and chil- 
dren were captured, while Black Hawk and about twenty war- 
riors escaped up the river. 

312. The End. — The war was now considered ended and 
the Illinois soldiers were marched to Dixon, where they were 
mustered out and thence returned to their homes. Gen. 
Winfield Scott had been ordered from Fortress Monroe on 
the 7th of August, 1832, to assist in the restoration of order 
and in the punishment of the insolent savages. He made the 
trip from the seaboard to Chicago in eighteen days — the dis- 
tance being 1,500 miles. 

The Asiatic cholera broke out in his army and he did not 
take any part in the "war." Black Hawk finally was induced 
to come to Fort Armstrong (Rock Island) to sign a treaty, 
but the parties of the treaty were conveyed to St. Louis where 
the Sac and Fox Indians ceded everything east of the Missis- 
sippi river to the United States. Black Hawk was kept a 
prisoner in Fortress Monroe awhile in the spring of 1833. 
Later he was given a brief visit to the principal cities in New 
England, after which he was returned to General Street, the 



280 A Student's History of Illinois. 

Indian agent at Fort Armstrong. He was put under the 
wardship of Keokuk, which Black Hawk considered a great 
indignity. He died at the age of seventy-one years. Black 
Hawk was an Indian with more than ordinary power. He 
was a man whose thoughts occupied a very high plane, as did 
those of other Indian chiefs, but he was shrewd, quick to see 
an advantage, persistent, revengeful. His history has been 
written by two or three different writers. 

The war closed with the battle of Bad Axe on the 2d of 
August, 1832. The soldiers returned to their homes and quiet 
was restored. The general government bore the expenses of 
the war which are said to have reached $2,000,000. There 
were killed about 250 regulars, and about the same number 
of militia men and settlers; the Indians suffered a loss of 
probably 300. 

There has been some question as to whether this war might 
not have been averted. It was a good deal to ask Indians who 
had cleared 700 acres of land and had it in cultivation, to 
move off and go into a new country. The conduct of the 
whites in encroaching upon the lands, village, and burying 
ground in the vicinity of Saukenuk was wholly inexcusable. 
Moses says : "The real cause of the war existed in that almost 
universal detestation in which the Indians were held by the 
pioneers. Their presence could not be tolerated, and whether 
the lands occupied by them were needed by the whites or not, 
the cry was 'The Indians must go !' " 

313. General Henry. — The "war'' made several reputa- 
tions. For quite a number of years it was a passport to official 
position to be able to say, "I was a soldier in the Black Hawk 
War." General Henry, who seems to have been providentially 
favored in the war never lived to reap political profit as a 
reward for his services. He was a native of Pennsylvania and 
came to Edwardsville in 1822. He secured an education un- 
der very difficult circumstances, working as a mechanic by day 
and attending night schools in the evening. In 1826 he re- 



A Student's History of Illinois. 281 

moved to Springfield and was shortly elected sheriff of San- 
gamon county. It was as an officer that Governor Eeynolds' 
attention was called to him. After the war his health failing, 
he visited New Orleans for medical attention, and for the 
benefit the climate might do, but nothing availed and he died 
of consumption, March 4, 1834. It is said that before the 
war he was supposed to have had a sound constitution but 
that the hardships incident to two years of military life un- 
dermined his health and he died as above stated. His mod- 
esty is attested by the fact that he did not let the people of 
New Orleans know that he was the real hero in the Black 
Hawk war. 

Among other men who made praiseworthy records was 
Governor Eeynolds himself, who never tired in his devotion 
to his duty as the commander-in-chief of the militia. Thomas 
Ford and Joseph Duncan both became governors of Illinois. 
Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis were soldiers in the 
Black Hawk war. Quite a number of men who became prom- 
inent State officers were officers or soldiers in the war. 

314. Politics. — During the second half of Governor Rey- 
nolds' term as chief executive there was little of general public 
interest. The State, by the apportionment based on the cen- 
sus of 1830, was entitled to three congressmen. This appor- 
tionment was made in time for the selection at the regular 
election in August, 1832. The three men selected were Zadoc 
Casey, Charles Slade, and Joseph Duncan. The election for 
members of the general assembly occurred at the same time. 
The legislature met in December. The governor's message 
dealt somewhat with national politics, since Jackson and the 
South Carolina nullifiers were in the public eye. Eeynolds 
urged upon the attention of the general assembly the cause of 
education, the Illinois and Michigan canal, or a railroad in- 
stead, and the penitentiary system. The house of representa- 
tives early in this session brought charges against Theophilus 
W. Smith, one of the justices of the supreme court. He was 



282 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



formally impeached, and tried before the senate, but was ac- 
quitted. The legislature adjourned without accomplishing 
very much in the way of needed legislation. 




GOVERNOR WM. L. D. EWING. 

Chief Executive from Nov. \ /, t834, to Dec. 3, J 834. 



In the summer of 1834 there was another congressional 
election. And although Reynolds' time as governor would not 
be out till December, 1834, yet he announced himself a candi- 
date for congress and was elected. The lieutenant governor, 
Zadoc Casey, had resigned two years before to go to congress 
and now Reynolds resigned as governor and the burden and 
honors of the chief magistracy fell upon the shoulders of Gen. 
W. L. D. Ewing, who served as governor fifteen days and 
until the inauguration of Governor Duncan. 

Governor Ewing was a Kentuckian. He came to Illinois 
prior to 1820, and held a federal appointment in this State 
under President Monroe: served in the legislature, and as 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



283 



brigadier general of the "Spy Battalion" in the Black Hawk 
war. He was elected president pro tern of the senate in the 
ninth general assembly and thus became the constitutional 
successor of Governor Eeynolds upon the latter's resignation. 
Governor Ewing later served in congress as representative and 
as senator. He also held the office of auditor. He died in 
1846. 




Executive Mansion at Springfield, 



284 



A Student's History of Illinois. 




GOVERNOR JOSEPH DUNCAN. 

1834—1838. 



CHAPTER XXX. 



GOVERNOR DUNCAN— STATE BANKING. 

315. Sketch. — Joseph Duncan was a Kentuekian, having 
been born at Paris in that state, February 23, 1794. He is 
recorded as a sergeant in the Illinois militia, in Capt. Nathan 
Chambers' company of 30-day men in the War of 1812. He 
served from April 12 to May 12, 1813. He is also put down 
as a lieutenant in the second regiment, Samuel Judy, colonel, 
which served in the War of 1812. He is also said to have 
fought bravely with Colonel Croghan in the defense of Fort 
Stephenson in 1813. 

At the close of the War of 1812, he settled at the "big 
hill," now called "Fountain Bluff," in Jackson county. "In 



A Student's History of Illinois. 285 

1814, there was quite a large accession to this county. Jo- 
seph Duncan, Dr. John G. Duncan, Polly Ann Duncan, old 
Mrs. Moore, their mother, and her son Ben, wth several 
blacks, settled here. Joe Duncan built the best house in the 
county, near the river and under the bluff, and it was called the 
'White House' as long as it stood. He renovated the mill, 
and it did considerable business. The Duncans lived there 
several years. Dr. Duncan died and was buried there.' 1 The 
foundations of the mill dam could be seen a few years ago. 
Here he occupied himself in the business enterprises common 
to those pioneer days. In 1823 he was appointed a major gen- 
eral of militia. In 1824 he was elected to the State senate 
from Jackson county. In 1825 he introduced the first legis- 
lation on public schools in the State. It was also the most 
rational that was suggested for many years. Mr. Duncan 
was elected to congress in 1826, took his seat' March 4, 1827, 
and served continuously till he came home to be inaugurated 
in 1834. 

316. The Canvass. — The canvass which preceded the elec- 
tion in August, 1834, was rather a tame affair. Mr. Dun- 
can's opponent was Mr. Kinney who had opposed Governor 
Reynolds in 1830, and who had served as lieutenant gover- 
nor with Governor Edwards from 1826 to 1830. 

Mr. Duncan remained in Washington during the summer 
of 1834. He carried on his canvass by sending out circulars 
and letters. His opponent, Mr. Kinney, carried on his can- 
vass personally, as he had in previous campaigns. Duncan's 
vote was 17,830, while Kinney's was 10,224, with 5,000 
scattered. 

Governor Duncan was naturally a Democrat. He had 
been a friend to Jackson, but several things worked together 
to alienate him from the Hero of New Orleans. Jackson at 
the time was working the destruction of the IT. S. bank and in 
his eagerness to do this he often failed to do things which 
would hold his friends. Mr. Duncan was very much inter- 



286 A Student's History of Illinois. 

ested in two measures, one an appropriation to render navig- 
able the Wabash river, the other an appropriation to improve 
the Chicago harbor. In addition nearly every congressman 
was deeply interested in congressional aid in constructing 
great highways from the Atlantic seaboard to the region of 
the Mississippi river. Jackson vetoed the two bills, the one 
for the Wabash and the one for the Chicago harbor, and re- 
fused aid to the internal improvement scheme at national 
expense. 

By the time of the canvass, Mr. Duncan was completely 
at cross purposes with the "Military Chieftain." And it is 
not at all improbable that he remained in Washington in 
order that he might not be under the necessity of letting the 
people know that the breach was as wide as it was in reality. 
The Whigs knew of the breach and so did the leaders among 
the Jackson men, but the former kept still and the latter were 
not believed by the great mass of Jackson men. 

By the time Governor Duncan took up the duties of his 
position, it was generally known that he was not in harmony 
with Jackson. And although the legislature was for "Old 
Hickory," its members and Governor Duncan seem to have 
had about the same general notions of what was needful for 
the upholding of the interests of Illinois. 

317. Message. — There were two important subjects upon 
which he recommended legislation — one was banking, the 
other internal improvement. On the latter subject he recom- 
mended the laying out of roads now, before the country was 
settled, so that they might run on the most direct line from 
one point to another. In response to this suggestion the legis- 
lature authorized the establishment of forty-two State roads 
and at a later special session forty more. In addition, a law 
was passed authorizing county commissioners to establish 
roads within the limits of their counties. This public road 
legislation was only an earnest of what was in store for the 
State within the next few years, and since the legislation on 



A Student's History of Illinois. 287 

each of these topics, banking and internal improvements, was 
of such far reaching importance, it will be well to consider 
one at a time. 

318. Banking. — We have in a previous chapter followed 
the financial legislation up to the year 1831, the expiration of 
the charter of the State bank, which was granted in 1821. 
And in this we have seen that the project ended very disas- 
trously for the State. The last act in this ten-year drama 
was to borrow $100,000 to redeem the outstanding issue of 
the defunct bank, and anticipating that this would not be 
sufficient to meet the entire obligation of the State, it was 
provided that the State bonds might be issued bearing 6 per 
cent interest to meet the remainder. 

The legislature readily agreed with the governor on the 
value of banks when he said "banks may be made useful in 
society/' It should be remembered that the members of the 
general assembly were not elected with any idea that such a 
subject would be before them. It was therefore quite a sur- 
prise to the members of the legislature, as well as to the peo- 
ple, when they found themselves absorbing a great corporation 
with millions of capital. A bill was introduced which cre- 
ated a State bank with a capital of $1,500,000 with the priv- 
ilege of adding another $1,000,000 to the first named sum if 
the legislature in its wisdom saw fit so to do. As a sort of 
offset against taxation, the bank was to pay as a tax to the 
State one-half of one per cent of its capital actually paid in, 
but was to be subject to no other taxtion. i\.nother bill pro- 
vided for the charter of the old Shawneetown Bank with a 
capital of $300,000. The bill creating the State bank was 
passed with difficulty. One representative agreed to vote for 
the bill if its friends would guarantee to pass a law taxing 
the lands held by non-residents higher than that held by the 
citizens of the State. Another who was opposed to the law 
creating the bank, suddenly became a convert to the bank and 
voted for the measure, and the next day he was elected a 



288 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



county attorney, the election to such offices falling to the 
legislature. 




The Old Shawneetown Bank Building, erected in J 840 at a cost of $80,000. 

This was without doubt the best banking institution in Illinois 

prior to the inauguration of the National Banks. 



319. Stock Subscribed. — One million four hundred thous- 
and dollars of the capital of the State hank was to be sub- 
scribed by individuals while the State reserved $100,000 for 
itself. The bank was one of issue and deposit. The bank 
was to be managed by a board of directors consisting of nine, 
one of whom should be president. The principal bank was 
to be located in Springfield with a branch at Vandalia. The 
stock was subscribed quickly, provision being made in the 
charter that the subscription books must remain open in this 
State for twenty days and that $5 in cash must be deposited 
with the subscription of each share of $100. Another clause 
prevented any one person from subscribing for large blocks 
of the stock, but a clique headed by some people interested in 



A Student's History of Illinois. 289 

Alton, got men over the State to authorize the purchase of 
stock by this clique and then transferred these shares to the 
Alton boomers and in this way Godfrey, Gillman & Co., of 
Alton, Thos. Mather, of Kaskaskia, and others came to own 
a controlling share of the stock. 

320. Booming Alton. — The bank management with Thos. 
Mather, president, attempted to boost Alton as a great mar- 
ket and distributing point and thus to check the growing power 
of St. Louis in the Mississippi valley. The lead mines of 
Galena and adjacent regions were very important at this time. 
All the trade, however, was centered in St. Louis. The Alton 
interest invested many thousands of dollars in the mines and 
in their product and thus "cornered" the market. They held 
the lead for big prices which were never realized and thus the 
Alton concerns lost very heavily. This involved the bank. 
Ford says he thinks the bank lost a million dollars in the ven- 
ture. There was one arrangement by which the bank could 
loan on real estate mortgages and in this way hundreds and 
probably thousands of the small farmers borrowed money, put 
it into improvements, and when the hard times of 1837 came 
they could not meet their notes and their farms were taken in 
by the bank and sold under the hammer. 

321. United States Bank. — Of course a great concern like 
this State Bank could not escape an alliance with politics. 
Politics and business are so often joined that it is a rare thing 
to see a business enterprise that does not get caught in the 
toils of the politicians. The period through which we are 
now passing, say from 1830 to 1837, was one fraught with a 
vital national question. Jackson was uncompromisingly op- 
posed to the United States bank, chartered in 1816. When he 
became President in 1829, one of his chief aims was to crush 
this bank. Not much was accomplished in the first term, but 
a bill to re-charter the bank was vetoed by Jackson, and the 
congress was unable to pass it over his head. Those who could 
look ahead saw that the days of banking with the United 



290 A Student's History of Illinois. 

States as a co-partner were numbered. State banks must 
eventually carry on the business of the country. There was, 
therefore, great activity in legislation in all the states pre- 
paratory to the death of the old U. S. Bank in 1836. To 
hasten the demise of the U. S. Bank, Jackson, taking ad- 
vantage of a clause in the charter which permitted the secre- 
tary of the treasury to withdraw the deposits of the general 
government from the U. S. Bank, and put them in State 
Banks, issued an order to carry this contingent clause into 
effect. 

The State banks now looked hopefully forward to the re- 
ceipt of large sums of government deposits in their vaults. 
The State bank of Illinois was no exception. But as is so 
often the case, a very trifling thing, apparently, prevented 
this bank from sharing in the "distribution of the spoils." 

322. Government Deposits. — In the general assembly when 
this bill was on the passage, there was no division on politics. 
The bill. was prepared by Judge Theophilus Smith, of the 
supreme bench. Judge Smith was an ardent Jackson Demo- 
crat and of course was a strong believer in state banks. But 
in the organization of the State Bank of Illinois it so hap- 
pened that a majority of the directors were Whigs, as were 
also the majority of its officers. The leading Democrats of 
the State did not hesitate to say now that the charter was un- 
constitutional. So when the bank asked the secretary of the 
treasury for a deposit of a portion of the government funds, 
the Democratic leaders had so poisoned the minds of the 
treasury officials at Washington, that they refused to favor 
the manager of the bank with a deposit. 

323. Specie Circular. — Just at this time, too, it will be 
remembered that Jackson put forth what we know as the 
"Specie Circular," which was an order that receivers at the 
land offices were to receive no more State Bank issues — only 
gold and silver. This made it necessary if a man had $200 
in State Bank issue, and wished to enter 160 acres of land. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 291 

that he should go to the bank and present this paper for re- 
demption, and with the specie he could enter the land. And 
when the receiver at the public land office received the $200 
in specie, he was not allowed to deposit it in the State Bank 
of Illinois, but must forward it to some State Bank that was 
in good standing. This worked, as a recent statesman said, 
in the "endless chain" order. The specie was constantly be- 
ing drawn from the bank vaults. 

324. Redemption Extension. — On December 7, 1835, the 
legislature met in special session. The law which provided 
for the loan of $500,000 on the canal could not be consum- 
mated. So at this extra session a loan of $500,000 was or- 
dered on the credit of the State. The governor at this extra, 
session recommended that the State take the remaining one 
million dollars of the stock in the State Bank. The legisla- 
ture did not take kindly to this, but did order a subscription 
to the one hundred thousand dollars of stock reserved for the 
State in the charter. A clause in the original charter pro- 
vided that at any time upon the presentation of its issue by 
holders thereof, the bank should have ten days in which to 
redeem it, but at this special session the time was lengthened 
to sixty days. 

When the legislature met in December, 1836, the makeup 
of the two houses was not different from that of the previous 
general assembly, but they were now deeply interested in what 
appeared to be the onward movement of the State. The capi- 
tal of the State Bank was increased to $3,500,000 and that of 
the Bank of Illinois (the bank at Shawneetown) was increased 
to $1,700,000. This increase in capital amounted to $3,100,- 
000, all of which was taken by the State. It was expected that 
part of this stock would be paid for out of the surplus reve- 
nue which the general government was distributing about 
this time. The balance was to be paid for with the sale of 
State bonds. 



292 A Student's History of Illinois. 

325. Fund Commissioners. — The whole financial interest 
of the State was now put into the hands of a body of men 
known as the fund commissioners. These fund commission- 
ers were authorized to subscribe, on behalf of the State, for 
this increase in the capital stock of the two banks. The in- 
crease amounted to $3,100,000. The State had now become 
a bona fide partner in the two banks and owned a controlling 
interest in each of them. It was expected that the bonds 
which would be offered for sale, the proceeds of which were 
to pay for the stock, would command such a premium, at least 
ten per cent, that it would not only pay the interest on the 
bonds the first year, but that the interest fund would be con- 
siderably enlarged. Likewise it was really believed that the 
profit from the investment of over three millions in the bank 
would add greatly to the interest fund. 

When the fund commissioners offered the bonds on the 
market they could not be sold at a premium, nor at par, and 
if sold at all they must be sold at a discount. Rather than 
have our own bonds go on the market at a discount, the two 
banks agreed to take $2,665,000 worth of them. 

The Shawneetown bank, called the Bank of Illinois, ef- 
fected the sale of $900,000 worth of the bonds, but the $1,- 
776.000 worth taken by the State Bank could not be disposed 
of. In the spring of 1837 the banks of the whole country be- 
gan to suspend specie payment. The State bank law con- 
tained a clause which provided that its charter should be 
forfeited in case it suspended specie payment for more than 
sixty days at any one time. The demands for specie grew and 
the situation was getting critical. 

326. Suspending Specie Payment. — The State Bank had 
now become so closely connected with the interests of the 
State, it being the depository of the funds of the gigantic 
internal improvement schemes, that the State must maintain 
it at all hazards. If the bank should go down so must the 
State's great enterprises. In this critical situation the fund 



A Student's History of Illinois. 293 

commissioners appealed to the governor to call an extra ses- 
sion of the legislature for the purpose of legalizing the sus- 
pension of specie payment. The governor readily complied 
with their request and on the tenth of July, 1837, the legis- 
lature convened in extra session. The legislature also readily 
complied with the demand for the legalization of the suspen- 
sion of specie payment. The governor now embraced the op- 
portunity to appeal to the law makers to repeal the legislation 
which was driving the State to financial ruin, but all in vain ; 
the legislature had set itself to the task of putting Illinois in 
the front rank in the matter of its internal improvements. 
"It was plain that nothing could be done to arrest the evil for 
two years more. In the meantime all considerate persons 
hoped the public insanity would subside, that the people 
would wake to reflection and see the absurdity of the public 
policy." 

327. Bank in Politics. — It was now necessary that the 
bank should go into politics. Self-preservation was justifica- 
tion. In national politics the Jackson Democrats had per- 
sistently opposed the U. S. Bank and favored the State Bank. 
The Whigs, or those anti-Jackson Democrats who eventually 
made up the Whig party, favored the U. S. Bank and opposed 
the State Bank. But in Illinois the rule seemed to work the 
other way, for the anti-Jackson people or the Whigs favored 
the State Bank, while the Democrats or Jackson people were 
bitterly opposed to it. It was therefore quite natural for the 
bank to take such part in the legislation as would result in 
advantage to itself. Not only was the bank involved in poli- 
tics but its life seemed to depend upon continuing the far 
reaching projects for internal improvements. 

328. Sine Die. — It is very difficult to trace the bank from 
1837 to its downfall on account of its intricate relationship 
with the internal improvement schemes. However, in a ses- 
sion of the legislature which met in December, 1838, a law 
was passed which- legalized the suspension of specie payment 



294 A Student's History of Illinois. 

till the end of the next regular or special session of the legis- 
lature. The next session was a special session called just be- 
fore the constitutional time for the assembling of the legis- 
lature in regular session. In this special as well as in the 
regular session which followed there was a very bitter fight 
on the State Bank. The enemies of the bank knew that if the 
law permitting suspension were not extended that the charter 
of the bank would be annulled since they knew the bank was 
not able to redeem its issue as fast as presented. If a sine die 
adjournment be taken at end of special session, then the char- 
ter would be annulled, but if they took a recess and began the 
regular session the friends might succeed in tiding it over. 
Those in favor of the sine die adjournment seemed to be in 
the majority, and to break a quorum the members who were 
against that kind of adjournment made a break for liberty by 
jumping through the windows, the door having been locked. 
This incident occurred while the sessions were being held in 
the old Presbyterian church in Springfield, the capital having 
been removed to that city, and the new capitol building not 
being ready for occupancy. Enough of the Whigs were pre- 
vented from escaping by the opponents of the bank and a sine 
die adjournment was taken. 

Notwithstanding this apparent victory of the enemies of 
the bank, in the regular session beginning December, 1840, 
the bank won the good will of the majority and considerable 
legislation was passed which favored it. 

329. Liquidation. — In 1843 the legislature passed a law 
"to diminish the State debt and put the State Bank into 
liquidation/' The bank was given four years to wind up its 
business. Now the State Bank held $2,000,000 worth of 
bonds and other forms of State indebtedness, while the State 
held $2,000,000 of stock in the State Bank. 

This law to "dimish the State debt, etc.," provided that 
the bank should turn over to the governor the bonds, scrip, 
etc., to the amount of $2,050,000, while the governor was to 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



295 



deliver to the bank an equal amount of bank stock. This 
still left the State with $50,000 worth of bank stock. A simi- 
lar law provided for the cancellation of $1,000,000 worth of 
State bonds held by the Shawneetown bank by surrendering 
$1,000,000 worth of stock in that bank. Thus the State re- 
duced its indebtedness to the extent of $3,050,000. 

Much of the history of the banking business in Illinois 
cannot be condensed into a single volume history of our State, 
and we must content ourselves with the foregoing facts which 
give the general features of a very unfortunate system of 
financiering. 




Library Building, State University, Urbana. 



296 A Student's History of Illinois. 



CHAPTEE XXXI. 

MARTYRDOM OF LOVEJOY. 

330. The First Slaves. — A very large share of the history 
of Illinois is inseparably connected with the subject of slav- 
ery. It has already been shown that slavery existed in what 
is now the State of Illinois, since the coming of Phillip Ren- 
ault in 1719. The French slaves were the negroes and niii- 
lattoes whose ancestors were those Guinea negroes brought 
from the West Indies, by Renault in the above mentioned year. 

In the latter part of the eighteenth century and the first 
part of the nineteenth, slavery existed in Illinois, by what 
was known as the indenture laws. In 1818 in the constitu- 
tional convention, slavery was a subject which engaged the 
most earnest and thoughtful attention of the delegates. In 
1820-3 the Missouri Compromise, although a national matter, 
came close to the political life of Illinois. The senators in con- 
gress from Illinois did all they could to further the interests 
of slavery in that great contest. From 1820 to 1824 the 
State was a seething cauldron of bitterness and strife over 
the question of introducing slavery into Illinois by constitu- 
tional enactment. Locally, the slavery question was not 
prominent in Illinois for several years after the great con- 
vention struggle in 1824. But from 1830 to 1840 the subject 
was constantly before the national congress and the public 
mind was greatly agitated by the discussions in and out of 
the halls of national legislation. 

331. Anti-Slavery Societies. — It has been said that the 
Missouri Compromise greatly pacified the public mind on the 
slavery question. It may have done so for a short space of 
time, but the pacification was in no sense a permanent one. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 297 

In fact public sentiment in neither north nor south was crys- 
tallized as early as 1830. In the year 1826, it is said more 
than a hundred anti-slavery societies existed in the slave states, 
and this number is said to have been three times as many a^ 
existed in the north. 

The agitation of the slavery question by such publications 
as those by Lundy, Birney, and Garrison, resulted in the 
formation of the National Anti-Slavery Society in Philadel- 
phia in 1833. This society began an active campaign for the 
abolition of slavery. They sent pamphlets, hand bills, and 
newspapers broadcast into slave territory. This greatly in- 
censed the slave holders and their friends. In New York the 
postmaster took from the mail, anti-slavery matter and de- 
stroyed it. So also did the postmaster at Charleston, South 
Carolina. This conduct was reported to the postmaster gen- 
eral, Amos Kendall, and he approved of this open violation 
of the law. Andrew Jackson, in his message to congress, 
asked that congress might pass a law which would prevent 
the passage "through the mails of incendiary publications in- 
tended to instigate the slaves to insurrection/' Anti-slavery 
meetings were broken up in many northern cities by those 
who bitterly opposed any agitation of the abolition question. 

332. Free Speech, Free Press. — Earnest appeals from the 
south came to the north to suppress the abolitionists. But 
those in authority could do no more than to stand by the first 
amendment to the constitution which says, "Congress shall 
make no law — abridging the freedom of speech or of the 
press." Public assemblies and free speech are thus guaran- 
teed and no legislation can in any way abridge them. From 
these anti-slavery societies and other organizations there 
poured into congress hundreds of petitions praying for some 
legislation looking to the relief of the slave. All means which 
the friends of slavery in the north had tried in the early days 
of the conflict to check the growing anti-slavery sentiment, 
had failed. They thought there was at least one means which 



298 A Student's History of Illinois. 

would annihilate the abolitionists. This last resort was vio- 
lence. "Violence was the essential element in slavery — vio- 
lence was the law of its being." This violence was directed 
against individuals, assemblies, and the press. 

333. Lack of Unity. — There was a lack of unity, as to the 
means existing among the anti-slavery people of the north 2 
and men upon whose souls lay the great burden which the 
nation itself ought to have cheerfully lifted, were in no sense 
fully agreed upon the final end and aim of their struggle. "It 
was fashionable to stigmatize them as ultra pragmatic, and 
angular, and to hold up their differences and divisions as a 
foil and shield against the arguments and appeals. Thous- 
ands consoled and defended themselves in their inaction be- 
cause anti-slavery men were not agreed among themselves." 
But while there was a lack of unity in method, there was at 
least a line of cleavage which separated the anti-slavery peo- 
ple into two great classes. In one class were those who be- 
lieved that the end whatever it might be was to be reached 
through constitutional legislation. These men might be called 
conservatives. They were fully persuaded that their friends 
in the other class were not safe in their counsel. These men 
were found in the two parties then recognized or soon to be 
recognized — the Whig and the Democratic. They hoped to 
reach the end they cherished by faithful effort within their 
respective political party organizations. This class of public 
men who held to the idea of political action as the cure for 
the ills of slavery eventually made up the "Liberty Party." 

334. Abolitionists. — In the other classes were those men 
who were not willing to wait for the long deferred day when 
the curse of slavery should be destroyed by the slow process 
of legislation. For they knew that any legislation not the 
outgrowth of public sentiment would be a dead letter upon 
the statute books. Legislation must follow public sentiment, 
not create it. And to the men of the Garrison cast there was 
no sign of the growth of a sentiment in the south, by 1835 or 



A Student's History of Illinois. 299 

thereabouts, that had any ray of hope as to the final extinc- 
tion of slavery. The fact was that by 1835 the public men of 
the south who had formerly favored some form of abolition 
were now bitterly opposed to any effort along that line. This 
restless class was known as the "Garrison Abolitionists." They 
were the radicals. Their fundamental doctrines were "no un- 
ion with slave holders," and "the United States Constitution 
is a covenant with death and an agreement with hell V There 
never was any doubt as to the sincerity of purpose of these 
"Garrison Abolitionists." Nor must we imagine that they 
were fanatics. They were men of great power and consecra- 
tion. They belonged to that class to whom the world pays 
homage. They are the men for whom we erect monuments. 
They are the men and women whose birthplaces we search out 
and whose homes, though humble, we mark with tablets of 
bronze and marble. They are they whose lives are a bene- 
diction and whose death is a national calamity. True these 
men were iconoclasts, they were revolutionists, they would not 
be limited by any law constitutional or legislative which was 
antagonistic to the law of conscience. They openly preached 
disunion. They did not hesitate to state their "unalterable 
purpose and determination to live and labor for the dissolu- 
tion of the present union by all lawful and just, though blood- 
less and pacific means, and for the formation of a new repub- 
lic, that shall be such not in name only, but in full living 
reality and truth." 

335. Newspapers, — Believing in free speech and in a free 
press, they made use of both to spread their ideas and win 
many to their cause. True, in those days the newspaper was 
an infant compared with the great newspapers of today. Not 
only were the papers small in size, but their influence was 
very much limited by the very small numbers reached by their 
circulation. All the papers which plead the cause of the 
"Garrison Abolitionists" were poorly supported financially. 



300 A Student's History of Illinois. 

Among these newspapers the reading public is quite fa- 
miliar with Lundy's Genius of Universal Emancipation, Gar- 
rison's Liberator, the Philanthropist, The Emancipator, and 
the Alton Observer. 

The spirit of violence above referred to which Mr. Henry 
Wilson in his "Rise and Fall of the Slave Power in America, " 
calls the fundamental idea in slavery, .began now to spend 
its fury on these newspapers, presses, and their editors. We 
are now in a position to understand the life-work and the 
martyrdom of the editor of the Alton Observer. 

336. Lovejoy. — Elijah Parish Lovejoy was born in Al- 
bion, Kennebec county, Maine, November 8, 1802. He was 
the oldest of a family of nine, seven sons and two daughters. 
His father, the Rev. Daniel Lovejoy, was a Congregational 
minister, and his mother was a Miss Elizabeth Pattee, a lady 
of excellent standing in that section. 

There is nothing to record of this young New England 
scion that may not be said of many another yankee boy, unless 
it may be that he was unusually precocious. He could read 
the Bible fluently at the age of four years. He spent Ids 
early years on the farm, and all the time that could be spared 
from the work was diligently applied upon his books. The 
fact that his father was a scholarly gentleman and his mother 
a lady of culture explains why young Lovejoy made very rapid 
progress in his education. 

His preparatory courses were taken in two academies near 
his home, and later he entered Waterville College. From this 
institution he graduated with the honors of his class in 1826. 
He was somewhat given to athletic sports and was greatly ad- 
mired by his fellow students, for his manly bearing and his 
gentlemanly deportment. While in college he produced quite 
a little poetry and one production was of considerable merit, 
the "Inspiration of the Muse." In later years while in St. 
Louis he penned a short poem which was published in the 



A Student's History of Illinois. 301 

St. Louis Times of which he was assistant editor. This seems 
to prophesy his sad taking off. One stanza read as follows : 

My Mother, 1 am far away 

From home and love and thee. 
And stranger hands may heap the clay 

That soon may cover me. 

337. Love joy in the West. — After graduation from col- 
lege he taught school in his native state and then catching the 
fever of immigration, he left his home, his people, and his 
native haunts and turned his course westward whence were 
coming such thrilling stories of adventures, opportunity, and 
sacrifice. Whether or not he purposed coming to the grow- 
ing city of St. Louis when he started is not stated, suffice it 
to say he reached that place in the fall of 1827. He engaged 
in the business of teaching, and during his leisure hours he 
studied, wrote letters back to his home, and furnished articles 
for the Missouri Republican. Some time in 1828 he became 
connected with the St. Louis Times as contributor or pos- 
sibly as staff correspondent. This was a Whig paper and sup- 
ported Henry Clay for the presidency, and Mr. Lovejoy was 
regarded as one who had vigorously championed the cause of 
the great Whig leader. 

338. Studies Theology. — In the great revival in St. Louis 
in the winter of 1831-2, Mr. Lovejoy united with the Pres- 
byterian church of that city, the pastor at that time being the 
Rev. Dr. W. S. Potts. Being naturally seriously minded, he 
felt he ought to give his life to the ministry, and he was there- 
fore more easily prevailed upon by his pastor to enter the 
theological seminary at Princeton, New Jersey, in the spring 
of 1832. Here he remained one year, after which he was 
licensed to preach by the second Presbyterian church of Phila- 
delphia. He spent the summer of 1832 in New York and 
other eastern cities and in the fall of that year he returned to 
St. Louis. 



302 A Student's History of Illinois. 

339. Becomes Editor. — He was now prevailed upon to be- 
gin the publication of a weekly religious newspaper. Friends 
furnished the necessary means, and the first number of the 
St. Louis Observer was issued November 22, 1832. The edi- 
torial and business management of the paper occupied his 
time quite fully, yet he found time to preach often in adjoin- 
ing localities. As early as 1834 he began to discuss editorially 
the subject of slavery. From these editorials we gather that 
he was not an abolitionist. In one issue of his paper he says : 
"Gradual emancipation is the remedy we propose .... In the 
meantime the rights of all classes of our citizens should be 
respected/' In a later issue he proposes this question : "How 
and by whom is emancipation to be effected ? by the masters 
themselves and no others can effect it; nor is it desirable 
that they should even if they could. Emancipation, to be of 
any value to the slaves, must be the free, voluntary act of the 
master, performed from a conviction of its propriety." From 
these extracts it would not appear that Love joy was a writer 
whose pen poisoned the ink into which he dipped it. On the 
other hand it seems to us at this time that such expressions 
were very mild, to say the least. 

340. A Petition. — But these expressions were distasteful 
to many of his readers, and to many more they evidently ap- 
peared ill-timed; for on October 5, 1835, nine prominent 
men, among whom was his former pastor, the Rev. Dr. Potts, 
presented Lovejoy a written statement in which they begged 
him to cease the slavery agitation. They warned him that 
many threats of violence were heard and they greatly feared 
for his personal safety and for that of Ids property. Lovejoy 
appears not to have returned a written reply to this letter, 
but he seems to have taken pains to preserve it, for on Octo- 
ber, 24, 1837, more than two years later and just shortly be- 
fore his death, he endorsed this letter as follows: "I did not 
yield to the wishes here expressed, and in consequence have 
been persecuted ever since. But I have kept a good conscience, 



A Student's History of Illinois. 303 

and that repays me for all I have suffered, or can suffer. I 
have sworn eternal opposition to slavery, and by the blessings 
of God, I will never go back." 

341. Constitutional Right. — While it is probable that 
Love joy did not formally reply to his nine friends, in an issue 
of the Observer shortly following the receipt of the admoni- 
tion, he presented his views on the question of slavery, and 
claimed protection in the utterance of his position on the sub- 
ject, since the constitution of Missouri says : "That the free 
communication of thoughts and opinions is one of the invalu- 
able rights of man, and that every person may freely speak, 
write, and print on any subject — being responsible for the 
abuse of that liberty." He closed this appeal to the people 
with the following declaration : 

I do, therefore, as an American citizen and christian patriot, and 
in the name of liberty, law, and religon, solemnly protest against 
all these attempts, howsoever and by whomsoever made, to frown 
down the liberty of the press and forbid the free expression of opin- 
ion. Under a deep sense of my obligation to my country, the church, 
and my God, I declare it to be my fixed purpose to submit to no such 
dictation. And I am prepared to abide by the consequences. I have 
appealed to the constitution and laws of my country. If they fail 
to protect me, I appeal to God and with Him I cheerfully rest my 
cause. 

342. Observer Moved to Alton. — The public mind became 
more and more disturbed and the proprietors of the Observer 
asked Lovejoy to resign as editor and business manager. This 
he cheerfully did. The plant had not been a paying invest- 
ment and it was turned over to a Mr. Moore who seemed to 
be financially responsible for a debt soon to fall due. Mr. 
Moore, who was now owner, asked Mr. Lovejoy to assume 
again control of the paper with the understanding that it 
should be moved to Alton. 

Mr. Lovejoy found the Alton people quite pleased at the 
idea of the removal of the paper to their town. In the mean- 
time Mr. Moore and his friends changed their minds and de- 



304 A Student's History of Illinois. 

cided to continue the publication of the paper in St. Louis. 
Accordingly, everything ran smoothly till an unfortunate oc- 
currence in that city in April, 1836. This was the burning 
alive of a negro by a mob. The negro had, without any provo- 
cation, fatally stabbed the deputy sheriff who had the negro 
under arrest. The Observer, of course, took note of the double 
crime, dwelling upon the danger of the spirit of mob vio- 
lence. No stress whatever was attached to the fact that the 
person mobbed was a black man. In connection with the de- 
nunciation of this mob in St. Louis condemnatory articles 
appeared relative to mob violence of recent occurrence in 
Mississippi and Massachusetts. The court, Judge Lawless, 
in charging the grand jury in relation to this burning of the 
negro virtually said if you find that the act was that of a 
multitude then you will not be able to find any true bills in 
the case. This charge by the judge to the grand jury was 
also attacked by the Observer. Popular excitement now ran 
high, which was not allayed by the announcement that the 
press would be removed to Alton. The office was entered by 
unknown parties, and the fixtures broken up and some type 
destroyed ; but the press was not seriously damaged, and 
preparations were made to ship it to Alton. The press reached 
Alton on Sunday morning, July 24, 1836. 

343. The Press Destroyed. — The press lay upon the wharf 
through the day of its arrival, but that night a mob broke it 
to pieces and threw the fragments into the river. The citi- 
zens of Alton called a public meeting and while they passed 
resolutions condemnatory of abolitionism, they also were 
equally outspoken in their condemnation of the action of the 
mob in the destruction of the press. Lovejoy was at this 
meeting and is said to have promised that he would desist 
from discussing the subject of slavery. 

But in later years his friends denied this and put out a 
very strong statement to that effect. The public statement 
signed by ten men who were present and heard Lovejoy speak, 



A Student's History of Illinois. 305 

says that they were willing to testify that he did say: "But, 
gentleman, as long as I am an American citizen and as long 
as American blood runs in these veins, I shall hold myself at 
liberty to speak, to write, and to publish whatever I please 
on the subject — being amenable to the laws of my country 
for the same/' The ten men who put out this public state- 
ment were : 

George H. Walworth. Solomon E. Moore. 

John W. Chickering. F. W. Graves. 

A. Alexander. A. B. Roff. 

Effingham Cock. James Morse, Jr. 

W. L. Chappell. Charles W. Hunter. 

344. A New Press. — As the result of the mass meeting 
held to condemn the destruction of the press, money was 
raised and a new press was purchased and on the 8th of Sep- 
tember, 1836, the first issue of the Alton Observer was given 
to the people. From that day to the following August the 
paper was issued regularly. During this time it would ap- 
pear that Mr. Lovejoy had undergone a change relative to the 
manner of dealing with the slavery question. He had by the 
middle of the summer of 1837 taken a position of immediate 
emancipation. He was now willing to petition congress to 
abolish slavery in the District of Columbia. He was also con- 
verted to the idea that the time was at hand for the organi- 
zation, in the State and the country, of anti-slavery societies. 

He advocated the organization of an "Illinois State Anti- 
Slavery Society." It was finally agreed among those inter- 
ested that Alton would be the proper place, and about No- 
vember 1, 1837, the time for such a meeting — the meeting was 
finally called for October 26, 1837. 

345. A Remonstrance. — In all these weeks and months as 
time went by, there was a very steady growth of opposition to 
the work and influence of Mr. Lovejoy. Many absurdly false 
stories were circulated to lower the estimation of good people 
concerning Mr. Lovejoy. On July 8, a mass meeting was 



306 A Student's History of Illinois. 

held in the market house in Alton at which meeting resolu- 
tions were passed censuring the editor of the Observer for 
continually dinning this slavery question in their ears. A 
committee of five men was appointed to notify Mr. Lovejoy 
of the feeling of the public and of the action of the market 
house mass meeting. Mr. Lovejoy replied in a very dignified 
way, stating that he denied the right of a public meeting to 
dictate what sentiments should be expressed in a public news- 
paper. 

346. Second Press Destroyed. — The pro-slavery sentiment 
could not contain itself much longer. It must have vent in 
some personal violence. On the evening of August 21, 1837, late 
at night, two young doctors, Beall and Jenning, called upon 
Col. George T. M. Davis, a lawyer of prominence, and informed 
him that they had started out in company with a dozen others 
with the express purpose of tarring and feathering the aboli- 
tion editor, and that they had met him coming to town from 
his home. The mob stopped Mr. Lovejoy and told him their 
errand, whereupon Mr. Lovejoy told them that he was going 
into town after some medicine for his wife who was very sick, 
that he knew that they had power to do with him as they 
pleased, but that if one of this mob would take the prescrip- 
tion into town and get the medicine and return with it to his 
sick wife and not let her know what had become of him, then 
he would go with them and cheerfully abide by their wishes. 
At this no one dared to accept the challenge, whereupon, they 
sneakingly retired and allowed him to proceed. But if they 
were not brave enough to lay hands on an honest, innocent 
man they were brave enough to do a deed twice as dastardly. 
They repaired to his office, broke it open, and destroyed his 
press and material. It was now confidently believed that abo- 
litionism had been given a death blow in Alton. 

347. Third Press Destroyed. — But they who reasoned thus 
had not reckoned with the abolition forces, for immediately 



A Student's History of Illinois. 307 

the friends and supporters of Love joy met and voted to call 
for a popular subscription for the purpose of buying another 
press. The funds flowed in with amazing promptitude and 
by September 21, a new press had arrived from Cincinnati. 
It was stored in a warehouse on Second street between State 
and Piasa streets. That night a mob broke open the warehouse 
and carried the press to the river's edge, and there it was 
broken to pieces and the pieces thrown into the river. This 
was the third press destroyed and the fourth case of vio- 
lence to Mr. Love joy's presses. The question now arose in 
the minds of some of Lovejoy's friends whether to remain in 
Alton and fight the issue to a finish or remove to Quincy 
where the people had promised ample protection and support. 
Mr. Lovejoy never for a moment doubted what his duty was. 
He thought the paper ought to remain in Alton. 

348. Anti-Slavery Society. — In the meantime a gather- 
ing of what promised to be an anti-slavery convention assem- 
bled in Upper Alton on October 26, to which had been invited 
all who thought slavery a sin, together with those who were 
"friends of free discussion." The pro-slavery men were in a 
majority, having come under the head of "friends of free dis- 
cussion." After a two days' discussion the meeting adjourned 
without accomplishing anything, but fifty-five anti-slavery 
men met and quietly organized a "State Anti-Slavery So- 
ciety." These fifty-five men were of the opinion that the Ob- 
server should be continued in Alton. It was finally made 
known that a fourth press had been ordered and then the rage 
of the pro-slavery people knew no bounds. A public meeting 
was called for Thursday, November 2, which after a brief 
session adjourned to the next day. At this second session 
strong condemnatory resolutions were passed. Lovejoy was 
present in this meeting and made a most touching appeal to 
those present for protection. 

349. Lovejoy's Last Appeal. — Mr. Lovejoy said in that 
meeting : 



308 A Student's History of Illinois. 

Mr. Chairman, it is not true as has been charged upon me that 
I hold in contempt the feelings and sentiments of this community 
in reference to the question which is now agitating it.... But, sir, 
while I value the good opinion of my fellow-citizens as highly as 
anyone, I may be permitted to say that I am governed by higher 

consideration.? than either the favor or the fear of man I plant 

myself down upon my unquestionable right, and the question to be 
decided is whether I shall be protected in the enjoyments of these 
rights — that is the question, sir, whether my property shall be pro- 
tected, whether I shall be suffered to go home to my family at night 
without being assailed, threatened with tar and feathers and assassin- 
ation — whether my afflicted wife, whose life has been in jeopardy 
from continual alarm and excitement, shall night after night be 
driven from a sick bed into the garret to save herself from brick 
bats and violence of the mob. That, sir, is the question ! .... I know, 
sir, that you can tar and feather me, hang me, or put me in the 
Mississippi without the least difficulty. But what then? Where 
shall I go?.... I have concluded, after consulting with my friends, 
and earnestly seeking counsel of God, to remain in Alton, and here 
insist on protection in the exercise of my rights. If the civil au- 
thorities refuse to protect me, I mast look to God, and if I die, I am 
determined to make my grave in Alton. 

The Reverend Dimmock has said : "I know of no more 
pathetic figure in all history than this man standing up alone 
among a host of enemies with tears streaming from his eyes — 
pleading for that liberty of speech and of press which is the 
foundation of all the liberties; with the shadow of death al- 
ready gathering about him, yet ready and willing to die rather 
than yield the highest and noblest right of citizenship." Love- 
joy's words were very powerful as those who heard them af- 
terwards testified. 

350. Fourth Press. — The fourth press was on its way to 
the city of Alton. The mayor of the city, Mr. John M. Krum, 
having a very limited police force, was willing that a body of 
private citizens should act as a sort of militia to preserve order 
and protect property. About 2 o'clock on Tuesday morning, 
November 7, the press was landed at the wharf and was im- 
mediately moved to the ware-rooms of Godfrey, Gilman & 
Co., where it was placed on the fourth floor. Although this 



A Student's History of Illinois. 309 

was 2 o'clock or later in the morning yet the mayor was pres- 
ent to assist, so far as he might, in protecting the press. So 
also was Mr. Oilman, a member of the above named firm. 
Likewise the citizen-soldier-band, about sixty in number, was 
present. There were no demonstrations that night and early 
in the morning of the 7th, the militia went to their homes, 
Nothing occurred through the day which would indicate that 
harm was intended to person or property. Toward evening 
the militia band to the number of sixty or thereabouts came 
to this store of Godfrey and Oilman to drill. They were ac- 
customed to drill in an upper room of the big double building, 
one end of which faced Second street, and the other over- 
looking the river, faced Levee street, or First street. In this 
upper room the militia drilled till about 9 o'clock, and think- 
ing everything would be safe, they were about ready to go to 
their homes when Mr. Oilman asked if they did not think it 
would be safer for a detail to remain all night. He told them 
they could sleep on the goods in the store. Mr. Oilman's ad- 
vice was taken and twenty men remained, including Mr. Oil- 
man and Mr. Love 'joy. 

351. The Parley. — Those who went to their homes had 
been gone but a short time till there were signs of trouble. 
The mob spirit began to show itself. Presently Edward 
Keating, a lawyer, and Henry W. West, a merchant, appeared 
at the store and asked to see Mr. Oilman. They said the gen- 
tlemen who were gathering outside had sent them to demand 
the surrender of the press, and further said if the press were 
given up that no harm would be done to persons or property. 
Mr. Oilman referred the matter to the little band and after 
consultation they decided not to comply with their demands. 
Keating and West then said that the people without would 
certainly destroy the building if that were necessary to secure 
the press. Some of the guard wanted to keep Keating and 
West as hostages till morning, and if this course had been 
adopted probably the sacrifice of two lives would not have 



310 A Student's History of Illinois. 

been necessary. But they were allowed to depart, and their 
report to the mob only added fuel to the flame and they began 
an attack on the building with rocks and clubs. The men in- 
side had elected a captain, but he was not equal to the emer- 
gency and they soon took positions to suit their own notion 
of defense. 

352. The Gathering Mob. — It was a very bright moonlight 
night and one of the guards in the building, Henry Tanner, 
who afterwards wrote fully of all the incidents, said he could 
easily distinguish his neighbors on the ground below as he 
looked out of the doors and windows of the upper floors. The 
mob became more and more demonstrative and shots were 
fired. Presently one of the militiamen fired into the mob 
and shot a man named Bishop, who died before they could 
get him to Dr. Hart's office across the street. Then the mob 
made preparations to set fire to the building by climbing to 
the roof on the east side but they were driven back. Other 
attempts were made when Lovejoy, KofT, and Weller went 
outside next to the levee to defend it against fire 
when Lovejoy was shot from behind a pile of lum- 
ber at a short distance eastward. He received five balls in 
his body. He walked inside and up a pair of stairs and said, 
"I am shot ! I am shot ! I am dead !" He fell to the floor 
without another word and expired. Koff and Weller were both 
seriously wounded. Keating and West came then to the door 
and said they desired to agree upon terms of surrender. The 
terms offered were to surrender the press and cease the de- 
fense. This was finally agreed to and fifteen of the twenty 
marched out but they were fired at by the mob until they 
were out of sight, but fortunately no one was hurt. The five 
men who remained were Lovejoy dead, Weller and Eoff 
wounded, Thompson, who remained behind till the mob en- 
tered the building, and Hurlburt, who stayed by the dead 
body of his chief. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 311 

353. Fourth Press Destroyed. — The press was broken to 
pieces when the mob dispersed. The dead body of Lovejoy 
lay on a cot till the following day, the 8th of November, the 
thirty-fifth anniversary of his birth. A hearse was procured 
and the body taken to the late residence. Mr. Owen Love- 
joy was with the stricken wife, and as the dead body of 
his brother lay before him "he vowed that from henceforth 
he would fight the cursed institution which had killed his 
brother." The body was prepared for burial and a grave was 
dug on a bluff which in after years came to be the City Ceme- 
tery. The Rev. Thos. Lippincott conducted simple services. 
No sermon or remarks or any explanation of the death was 
offered. No inquest was held over the body and a very few 
attended the funeral. 

354. The Grave Marked. — Eleven years after this tragic 
event the Rev. Thos. Dimmock, then a young man living in Al- 
ton, in company with an older citizen, found the grave of Love- 
joy marked with the initials E.P.L. carved in the wood. The 
grave was between two large oaks. When the ground was 
fenced and laid off as a cemetery a street ran directly over the 
grave, the trees were cut down and the board disappeared. 
The superintendent of the cemetery, Mr. William Bruden, 
knew the grave and so he placed two limestone rocks, one at 
the head and one at the foot, letting them down level with the 
top of the ground. And thus the grave remained in the mid- 
dle of the street for several years. Eventually Maj. Chas. W. 
Hunter had the remains removed to an adjoining lot of his 
own. The person to do this work was a colored man by the 
name of Wm. Johnston. This colored man had dug the grave 
and buried Lovejoy's remains at the time of his death and 
thus we have a very definite chain of evidence as to the iden- 
tity of the grave. 

When the remains were removed by order of Major Hun- 
ter a crude sort of tombstone, probably an old one, was placed 
at the grave and marked "Lovejoy." In later years the Rev. 



312 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



Mr. Dimmock purchased a simple marble scroll resting on a 
block of granite. On the scroll he had inscribed : 



HIC JACET 



LOVEJOY 



JAM PARCE SEPULTO 



"Here Lies Lovejoy. Spare him now that he is buried/' 

The lot was transferred from Major Hunter to the Rev, 
Mr. Dimmock and in August, 1885, he transferred all right, 
title, and interest in the lot to the colored people of Alton. 




Lovejoy Monument erected at a co~t of $30,000, the State appropriating $25,000. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



313 



The city of Alton set aside a suitable lot upon which to erect 
a monument and an association was formed and considerable 
interest manifested in the erection of a suitable monument. 
But nothing of any importance was accomplished till June 17, 
1895. In that year the general assembly appropriated the 
sum of $25,000 for the purpose of erecting a suitable monu- 
ment to the memory of this martyr to the cause of free speech, 
free press, and free men. The citizens of Alton supplemented 
this with a smaller amount and thus there stands in the ceme- 
tery at Alton a beautiful shaft to perpetuate the memory of 
one of America's martyrs. 




The First Banking House in Shawneetown, used as a bank as early as 

1816. The building was the home of John Marshall 

who was a financier of no mean ability. 



314 A Student's History of Illinois. 



CHAPTER XXXII. 

ILLINOIS AND MICHIGAN CANAL. 

355. The Chicago Portage. — La Salle and other French- 
men believed that a canal could be easily constructed from 
the Chicago river to the head of navigation on the Illinois. 
These men were quite familiar with the canal system of their 
own country, France, and also with other systems in other 
parts of western Europe. It is not strange, therefore, that 
French traders and travellers, should see the future possibil- 
ity of this portage. 

In 1801, Albert Gallatin, then secretary of the treasury, 
made a report to congress in which he pointed out the great 
advantage of a canal. During the war of 1812 the need of 
such a water-way was seen. In 1811 a bill was introduced 
into congress which looked toward constructing a canal at 
this point. 

In 1814, President Madison in his message to congress, 
called attention to the importance of this canal, and a com- 
mittee was appointed to make an investigation of the subject. 
The committee reported that it was "the great work of the 
age ,? for both military and commercial purposes. 

An editorial is quoted in Nile's Eegister, volume 6, page 
394, as follows : 

By the Illinois river, it is possible that Buffalo in New York, 
may be united with New Orleans, by inland navigation through lakes 
Erie, Huron, and Michigan, and down through that river to the Mis- 
sissippi. What a route ! How stupendous the idea ! How dwindles 
the importance of the artificial canals of Europe compared with this 
water communication! If it should ever take place (and it is said 
the opening may be easily made) the territory (of Illinois) will be- 
come the seat of an immense commerce and a market for the com- 
modities of all regions. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 315 

356. Indian Cession. — In 1816 in the treaty which Gov- 
ernor Edwards, Wm. Clark, and Auguste Choteau made with 
the Pottowatomies, Chippewas, and Ottawas, at the close of 
hostilities resulting from the war of 1812, there was ceded 
to the United States a tract of land including Chicago and a 
strip of land joining the lake with the Illinois river. Gov- 
ernor Edwards says that at that time the Indians were made 
to believe that the government wanted the land in order to 
build thereon a canal. And he further says that the Indians 
were made to believe that this canal would be of great advan- 
tage to the Indians as well as the whites, and that the Indians 
ceded their land with the above understanding. 

In 1818, when Nathaniel Pope was arguing for the exten- 
sion of the northern line of the State as far north as 42 de- 
grees and 30 minutes, one of his main points was that this 
would put both ends of the canal, which he said must event- 
ually be built, within the State. Whereas, if the northern 
boundary line remained at the parallel of 41 degrees and 39 
minutes, the south end of the canal would lie in one State 
and the north end in another. 

357. Grants. — Governor Bond, in his first inaugural as gov- 
ernor of the State, in 1818, recommended to the legislature 
the consideration of the project of a canal between Lake Mich- 
igan and the Illinois river. John Reynolds drafted a bill at 
that session, although himself not a member of the general 
assembly, providing for a preliminary survey of the route, 
but the legislature thought the subject not a pressing one and 
the bill did not pass. 

Governor Coles, in his first inaugural, devoted four pages 
in his message, to the canal. He referred to permission which 
the last congress gave Illinois to cut a canal through the gov- 
ernment lands from the lake to the river. Not only this per- 
mission was given, but a strip of ninety feet on each side of 
the canal was granted, provided the State would guarantee 
free transportation to the United States forever. The people 



316 A Student's History of Illinois. 

thought this was a very reasonable request from the general 
government. However, at this session of the legislature a 
bill passed providing for a commission to devise and adopt 
measures for the opening of the canal and the construction 
of locks. Looking to the end contemplated in the bill, the 
commission was appointed consisting of Thos. Sloo, Theo- 
philus W. Smith, Emanuel J. West, and Erastus Brown. 
Peck's Annals says at this time (1823) there was a trading 
post at Chicago, a dozen French families in Peoria, and that 
Springfield was a frontier village containing about a dozen log 
cabins. In the fall of 1823 the commissioners made prelim- 
inary surveys, and estimated the cost of construction. The 
highest estimate was $716,110, while the lowest estimate was 
$639,946. 

In 1825, January 17, a bill passed the legislature creating 
"The Illinois and Michigan Canal Company/' The capital 
stock was to be $1,000,000. The charter was to run fifty 
years, and the company was to receive all the benefit of grants 
of land by the general government or from individuals. The 
company also was to receive the benefit of all tolls and other 
incomes, and at the end of fifty years the canal and all unsold 
lands were to revert to the State which should pay to the 
company all money expended by it together with 6 per cent 
interest on the same. Mr. Cook, then our representative in 
congress, saw that this sort of a proposition would defeat 
any grant of land by the general government and he issued a 
strong appeal to the State to repeal the charter. He was very 
hopeful of the results of a canal, and thought that in thirty 
years it would, if all its profits could be turned into the State 
treasury, relieve the State of all taxation and have money to 
spare. No stock was subscribed in the company and the in- 
corporators soon surrendered the charter. 

At a special session of the legislature in January, 1826, a 
memorial was drafted urging congress to make a grant of 
land to assist in the building of the canal. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 317 

Congressman Cook and our two senators, Kane and 
Thomas, now labored earnestly to secure congressional action 
in the matter. On March 2, 1827, a bill was passed which 
granted to the State of Illinois, for the construction of the 
canal, each alternate section of a strip ten miles wide (five 
on each side of the canal) from Lake Michigan to the Illinois 
river. The total number of acres in this grant was 224,322. 
The lands were to be disposed of by the legislature for the 
purpose of constructing the canal. It was provided in the 
grant that the canal must be completed in twenty years; if 
not, all unsold lands must revert to the general government 
and the State must pay for that which had been disposed of. 

358. Canal Commission. — In 1829 the legislature organ- 
ized a "Canal Commission/' whose duty it should be "to ex- 
plore, examine, fix and determine the route of the canal." 
Governor Edwards appointed Charles Dunn, Dr. Gersham 
Jayne, and Edmond Roberts, canal commissioners. They 
were to have charge of the construction of the canal and the 
control of the grant of land given by congress. This board 
was considerably embarrassed by the lack of funds, and no 
progress was made till the year 1831. About this time the 
commissioners made sale of town lots in Chicago and prob- 
ably in Ottawa. The receipts for town lots and canal lands 
amounted to nearly $19,000. New surveys were made by a 
new engineer, a Mr. Bucklin, and the estimated cost now 
footed up $4,000,000. This was very discouraging and the 
proposition was made to substitute a railroad for the canal. 
The estimated cost of the railroad was over a million dollars. 
The surveys and other expenses up to this time had been 
nearly $17,000, and nothing permanent had been done. The 
canal commissioners were legislated out of office and required 
to turn over all money and papers to the state treasurer. 

359. Chicago. — Congress was again petitioned to grant 
the State the privilege of using the proceeds of canal lands 
in the building of 'a railroad instead of for the construction 



318 A Student's History of Illinois. 

of a canal. This request was granted and a period of five 
years was allowed in which to begin the work. In 1835 the 
legislature decided to construct the canal and authorized the 
governor to negotiate a loan of $500,000 upon the credit of 





«** 


m 

-us 




" " "".""■' 


•• ''. M I 


iiiip 


|1|» 


^-••--^^._J 




3»s<®«—» -I.WT* 


..... 





The Sauganash Hotel, the First Hotel in Chicago. It was built by Mark 

Beaubien in 1 832. The small log building to the left was occupied 

by Philo Carpenter as a drug store in the same year. 



the canal-lands. Nobody cared to loan money on such secur- 
ity and in 1836 the act was repealed. A similar act was 
passed which pledged the credit of the State as security for 
the canal script. A commission consisting of Wm. F. Thorn- 
ton, Gurdon S. Hubbard, and Wm. B. Archer, was appointed 
by the governor. Under this commission the first work was 
actually begun July 4, 1836, at which time a public celebra- 
tion was held in Chicago. Chicago now began to grow very 
rapidly. Lots sold for fabulous prices, and speculation was 
rife. Prices of labor and provisions went up very rapidly. 
Common labor was $20 to $30 per month, including board. 
Pork was $20 to $30 per barrel. Flour $9 to $12 per barrel. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 319 

Salt $12 to $15 per barrel, and other articles of food equally 
high. 

There was a very difficult problem which presented itself 
to the commissioners — that of cutting a high level or a low 
level channel. It was finally decided to cut a high level 
canal. Lots in Chicago were ordered sold and additional 
loans were made. In 1842 the funds were exhausted and the 
work ceased with an indebtedness of nearly a quarter million 
dollars. Up to this time the total expenditure had been 
nearly $5,000,000. 

360. Canal Completed. — In 1845 by legislative enactment 
the entire trust of building the canal, together with all prop- 
erty, was transferred from the Board of Commissioners to a 
Board of Trustees, consisting of Wm. H. Swift and David 
Leavitt representing the bondholders, and Jacob Fry, repre- 
senting the State. In 1848 the canal was completed, after 
many years of distracting legislation and expensive delays. 
Much of the business side of this great enterprise was done 
in a very unbusiness like way and thousands of dollars were 
paid out for poorly rendered service. Bonds were sold at 
ruinously large discounts and large interest charges accumu- 
lated, while the money was lying idle awaiting expenditure in 
proper channels. The cost of the canal up to 1879, had been 
about six and a half million dollars; while the receipts up 
to that time had been — for lands $5,900,000, nearly, and for 
earnings $3,000,000, nearly, leaving a net income of about 
$2,000,000. 



320 A Student's History of Illinois. 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT. 

361. Purpose. — We have seen in the preceding chapter the 
origin and progress of the Illinois and Michigan canal. In 
the present chapter we wish to trace the origin, growth, and 
collapse of another great undertaking. There may he good 
reasons why the two topics should he considered as only parts 
of a greater whole, and again there are many good reasons 
why they may, with propriety, he considered separately. The 
end in view in the construction of the Illinois and Michigan 
canal was definite and clear-cut from the beginning. The 
purpose was to open water communication between the Illinois 
river and Lake Michigan. There may have been a very in- 
definite idea as to the cost or as to just how the details were 
to be worked out, just as there is at this time in regard to 
the Panama canal, but the purpose never changed. With the 
matter of internal improvement there was no definite pur- 
]30se from the beginning. From time to time the end 
changed, the subject grew and the more the statesmen of 
those times wrestled with the problem, the more complicated 
and impracticable it became. 

362. Governor Reynolds. — In subjects so organically con- 
nected with the whole life of the people as roads, bridges, 
railroads, canals, and banks, it is extremely difficult to find 
the origin of any one of them. The fact is there is no for- 
mal beginning. Roads and trails were the earliest care of the 
permanent settlers. Fords, ferries, and bridges were provided 
at a very early date. But it is probably due to Governor Rey- 
nolds to say that he is to be given credit for first calling the 
attention of the legislature to the need of internal improve- 
ment. Governor Reynolds, in his inaugural message, trans- 



A Student's History of Illinois. 321 

mitted to the general assembly in December, 1830, had this 
to say on the general subject of internal improvement: 

"The internal improvement of the country demands, and 
will receive your particular attention. There cannot be an 
appropriation of money within the exercise of your legisla- 
tive power, that will be more richly paid to the citizen, than 
that for the improvement of the country." 

363. Recommendations. — Governor Reynolds was clearly 
of opinion that the general government ought to carry on a 
system of national improvements, but he was as clearly of 
opinion that there were certain local improvements that ought 
to be fostered by the State. He urged attention to the report 
of the canal commissioners and hoped that the attention of 
congress might be directed to the national importance of the 
enterprise. "The improvement of the navigation of the riv- 
ers adjoining and within this State, will be the subject of 
your serious consideration. Those improvements which are 
local to our State will receive your fostering care, so far as 
our means will justify without embarrassment to our people. 
The general good of the present and future population seems 
to require the permanent establishment of three public roads 
in this State extending from its southern to its northern lim- 
its. (1) One to commence on the Ohio river near its junc- 
tion with the Mississippi, and extending north, on the western 
side of the State, by the principal towns on the most direct 
route to Galena. (2) Another to commence at Shawneetown 
passing north, through the center of the State, to accommo- 
date the present and future population, to the lead mines. 
(3) And one other, to commence on the Wabash river, near 
its confluence with the Ohio, passing through the principal 
towns on the eastern side of the State by Danville to Chicago, 
and thence to the lead mines." 

Governor Eeynolds believed the general government might 
be induced to construct them and that then the counties might 
be required to keep them in repair. His idea was that a good 



322 A Student's History of Illinois. 

road passing through an undeveloped region would be a very 
potent factor in the development of such a section. He spe- 
cially called attention to the road leading from Aancennes 
through the State to St. Louis, saying it was much travelled. 

364. Governor Duncan. — A careful study of the above 
modest recommendation and simple suggestions will prepare 
us to some extent to begin a thorough study of "Internal Im- 
provement" as it was known in later years. 

Governor Duncan was inaugurated in December, 1834. 
The effects of the Black Hawk war were disappearing and 
population was moving rapidly into the northern counties. 
Governor Duncan was specially interested in a public school 
system, in the Illinois and Michigan canal, and in a system of 
internal improvement. No action on this last suggestion 
was taken by the legislature of 1834-5. The second session 
of this general assembly convened in December, 1835, and to 
this special session Governor Duncan sent his message. In 
it he says there is a very general demand for other internal 
improvements besides the canal. "When we look abroad and 
see the extensive lines of inter-communication penetrating al- 
most every section of our western states, when we see the 
canal boat and the locomotive bearing, with seeming triumph, 
the rich productions of the interior to the rivers, lakes and 
ocean, almost annihilating time, burthen, and space, what 
patriotic bosom does not beat high with a laudable ambition 
to give Illinois her full share of those advantages which are 
adorning her sister states and which her magnificent provi- 
dence seems to invite by the wonderful adaptation of the 
whole country to such improvements/' And then, as if fear- 
ful that this oratory would overcome their conservatism, he 
adds : "While I would urge the most liberal support of all 
such measures as tending with perfect certainty to increase 
the wealth and prosperity of the State, I would at the same 
time most respectfully suggest the propriety of leaving the 
construction of all such works wherein it can be done con- 



A Student's History of Illinois. 323 

sistently with the general interest, to individual enterprise." 
This was indeed wholesome advice and had it heen taken the 
State would have greatly profited thereby. But internal im- 
provement was in the air. The subject was receiving unusual 
interest in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Maryland. In 
1835 there were twenty-two railroads in operation in the 
United States, two of which were west of the Alleghanies. In 
addition there were several canals, besides the great Erie 
canal. 

365. Rapid Growth. — The members of the legislature 
were not yet converted to the theory of State ownership of 
public utilities, and so they did no more than to charter a 
great number of railroads, but they did come to the relief of 
the canal and ordered the issue of half a million dollars worth 
of bonds on the credit of the State for the purpose of further- 
ing this enterprise. The message of the governor seems later 
to have awakened great interest in internal improvement. 

The city of Chicago was now growing with amazing rapid- 
ity. The lots which were a part of the capital of the canal 
project were bringing big prices and selling freely. The 
State was taking on the same spirit of enterprise. Towns and 
cities were laid off and the lots sold at auction for extravagant 
prices. Five million dollars worth of land was sold in the 
year 1836. This meant increased immigration and an abund- 
ant inflow of money into the State. All the people were full 
of the idea of a great expansion of population, business, and 
wealth. All through the summer of 1836, there were all sorts 
of stories afloat in the air of what was just ahead, and to keep 
pace with this the need and advantages of a system of inter- 
nal improvement were discussed everywhere. 

It was argued that Illinois is unsurpassed in fertility of 
soil, in variety of climate, and agricultural products; timber 
was plentiful, all that was needed was distribution. Her sit- 
uation relative to the Lakes and the Mississippi was superior 
to that of any other State west of the Alleghanies. All that 



324 A Student's History of Illinois. 

was needed was more people and more enterprises. Public 
meetings were held in which all these facts were discussed. 

A move was eventually set on foot for a State convention 
which was appointed to meet in Vandalia at the time of the 
meeting of the legislature early in December, 1836. Delegates 
were appointed from the several counties and much interest 
was manifested. 

366. Breaking Ground. — A new legislature was also to be 
elected in August, 1836, and as the candidates for the legis- 
lature went about among the people or spoke from public 
platforms, the subject of internal improvement was more or 
less discussed. Another matter which added fuel to the names 
already started was the beginning of the work on the Illinois 
and Michigan Canal. On July 4, 1836, the first ground was 
broken in Chicago on this famous waterway. The event was 
accompanied by a public celebration in Chicago. The Hon. 
Theophilus W. Smith, a former canal commissioner, read the 
Declaration of Independence; and Dr. Wm. B. Egan deliv- 
ered an able and appropriate address on the occasion. 

Ford in his history of Illinois, says, however, that the great 
mass of the people and more particularly those who resided in 
the country were not in the whirl of excitement. It was 
chiefly in the towns that the people were wrought up. 

367. Improvement Convention. — The legislature met the 
first part of December, and at the same time the convention 
to consider internal improvements assembled at Vandalia. 
The make-up of the legislature was quite remarkable. Among 
those elected to this general assembly, one became president, 
one a defeated candidate for the same office, six became United 
States senators, eight congressmen, three State supreme 
judges, and still others reached high State and national posi- 
tions. Many members of the legislature took part in the de- 
liberations of the internal improvement convention. This 
convention soon finished its business and adjourned. The re- 
sults of its deliberations were, first, a bill which it was expected 
some friend would introduce into the legislature ; and second, 



A Student's History of Illinois. 325 

a memorial or plea setting forth the advantages, costs, in- 
comes, etc., of this improvement venture. In addition, the 
convention selected a lobbying committee that should remain 
in Vandalia during the session and see that timid members 
did not fail to do their duty. 

368. Governor's Message. — The governor's message was a 
conservative document for such times. He was heartily in 
favor of the idea of internal improvements, but was quite 
doubtful as to the advisability of the State's undertaking the 
entire financial obligation. He was willing that the State 
should assume a third or a half of the responsibility but was 
not favorable to the assumption of the whole burden by the 
State. 

After the session was fairly open, the bill prepared by the 
convention and the accompanying memorial were presented 
to the house. Eesolutions were introduced by Stephen A. 
Douglas favoring State ownership. The subject was referred 
to the committee on internal improvement, the chairman of 
which was Edward Smith, of Wabash county. 

369. Appropriations. — The bill which had been kindly 
prepared by the convention and presented to the legislature 
for its endorsement and modification by the house, provided 
for the following internal improvements, and set aside the 
amounts opposite for the carrying out of the same : 
Improvement of the Wabash, the Illinois, Rock river, 

Kaskaskia, and Little Wabash, and Western Mail Route.$ 400,000 

Railroad, Vincennes to St. Louis 250,000 

Railroad, Cairo to Galena 3,500,000 

Railroad, Alton to Mt. Carmel 1,600,000 

Railroad, Quincy to Indiana line 1,800,000 

Railroad, Shelby ville to Terre Haute 650,000 

Railroad, Peoria to Warsaw 700,000 

Railroad, Alton to Central Railroad 600,000 

Railroad, Belleville to Mt. Carmel 150,000 

Railroad, Bloomington to Pekin 350,000 

To pacify disappointed counties 200,000 

Total ' $10,200,000 



326 A Student's History of Illinois. 

This bill which provided for the construction of so many 
railroads, was sent to the governor, who, together with the 
council of revision, vetoed the measure. But when it came 
back to the general assembly it was speedily passed over the 
veto. This bill which looked to the burdening of the State 
to the amount of over ten millions of dollars was not the only 
measure of importance before the legislature. There were at 
least three other important matters that must be considered. 
They were, a bill to increase the capital stock of the State 
Bank $2,000,000, and that of the Shawneetown Bank $1,400,- 
000; a proposition to re-locate the State capital; and also a 
proposition to enlarge the issue of bonds for the completion of 
the Illinois and Michigan canal. These four measures were 
fraught with grave consequences to the future of the State. 

370. Long Nine. — It can be readily seen that in this ses- 
sion of the legislature there will be conflict of interest, and it 
will only be by considerable amount of "swapping" of votes 
that the several measures can be carried. For instance, the 
delegation from Sangamon county consisted of nine men, two 
in the senate and seven in the house. They had been in- 
structed to vote for internal improvement, but more especially 
to secure the removal of the State capital, and to secure its 
location in Springfield. This latter problem had been in- 
trusted to Lincoln, who, it seems performed his task with 
eminent success. When the vote was finally reached Spring- 
field, Jacksonville, Vandalia, Peoria, Alton, Illiopolis, be- 
sides smaller towns, were candidates for the honor. Four 
ballots were taken before the selection was finally made. 

Springfield was selected and every one recognized the fine 
hand of Abraham Lincoln in the result. In a later session of 
the legislature charges were informally preferred against the 
"Long Nine" who, it was claimed, had secured the removal 
of the capital to Springfield through corrupt means. But 
probably nothing worse was done than to "swap" votes with 
some of the members who were not getting out of the internal 



A Student's History of Illinois. 327 

improvement scheme as much as they thought they ought 
to have. 

371. Issuing Bonds. — We have digressed from the im- 
provement scheme in order to call attention to the removal of 
the capital ; and now let us return to the main subject. The 
improvement bill as reported, amended, and passed, contem- 
plated the expenditure of considerably more than $10,000,000. 

This money was to be raised by issuing bonds which it 
was confidently expected would sell at a handsome premium. 
General Linder, who, in later years, wrote reminiscences of 
this period says: "The enthusiastic friends of the measure 
maintained that, instead of there being any difficulty in ob- 
taining a loan of fifteen or twenty millions authorized to be 
borrowed, our bonds would go like hot cakes and be sought 
after by the Rothschilds and Barring brothers, and others of 
that stamp; and that the premiums which we should obtain 
from them would range from fifty to one hundred per cent 
and that the premium itself would be sufficient to construct 
most of the important works, leaving the principal sum to go 
into our treasury and leave the people free from taxation for 
ages to come/' 

372. Bill Vetoed. — When this bill for internal improve- 
ment reached the council of revision, it was promptly disap- 
proved and the bill was returned to the house. The council 
stated that "such works can only be made safely and econom- 
ically in a free government, by citizens or by independent 
corporations, aided or authorized by government." But the 
bill rejected by the council of revision was passed by both 
houses of the legislature and there was nothing left for the 
governor to do but to carry it into effect according to its own 
provision. 

373. Fund Commissioners. — The act provided for the ap- 
pointment of a board of three fund commissioners, who 
should negotiate all loans, sign and deliver bonds, and have 
charge of all moneys .which should be received therefor. They 



328 A Student's History of Illinois. 

should also pay out this money upon the proper orders. The 
law provided that these fund commissioners should be "prac- 
tical and experienced financiers. " The three men selected 
by the legislature to fill these responsible places were Chas. 
Oakley, M. M. Rawlings, and Thos. Mather. There was an- 
other board created, known as the board of public works, con- 
sisting of seven members, one from each judicial district. It 
was the duty of this board to locate, superintend, and construct 
all public works except the canal which was in the hands of a 
commission of three. The first board of public works con- 
sisted of Murray McConnell, Wm. Kinney, Elijah Willard, 
Milton Iv. Alexander, Joel Wright, James W. Stephenson, 
and Ebenezer Peck. 

In the summer of 1837 the fund commissioners went to 
their task of issuing bonds and offering them for sale. With 
the help of the old United States Bank, which was at that 
time winding up its business, they were able to place a con- 
siderable quantity of the bonds at par. This money was now 
at the disposal of the board of public works and the improve- 
ments were begun in many places. This was the beginning 
of a very nourishing period. 

Money became plentiful, work was abundant, and hopes 
were high. . Just at this time the financial crash which fol- 
lowed Jackson's term of office, was coming on and the fund 
commissioners were not able to place any more bonds in this 
country at par, and in London they could only be placed at 
nine per cent discount. It is said that this coming financial 
crash was hopefully looked to by the opponents of the internal 
improvement plan as a means of stopping the wild schemes 
of the "system." But in spite of the hard times which were 
approaching the fund commissioners secured cash to the 
amount of $5,668,000 by December. 1838. 

374. Special Session. — The legislature that had projected 
these vast schemes of improvement had hardly adjourned in 
the early summer of 1837 when the members were called in 



A Student's History of Illinois. 329 

extra session to legalize the suspension of specie payment by 
the State Bank. At the opening of this special session which 
met July 10, 1837, the governor in his message very earnestly 
recommended the repeal of the internal improvement legisla- 
tion which had just passed at the previous sitting of the legis- 
lature. He said that the disasters which had already fallen 
upon the commercial world suggested the necessity of escap- 
ing from the perils of a system which could only be fraught 
with evil. But the legislature paid no heed to this whole- 
some advice. All through the year 1837-8 the fund commis- 
sioners were busy negotiating loans. 

In the summer of 1838 the election for State officers was 
held. Thos. Carlin, democratic candidate for governor, was 
elected. In Governor Duncan's last message to the legisla- 
ture in December, 1838, he again took decided ground against 
continuing the internal improvement plans. He pointed out 
with prophetic foresight the evils of the "system." The in- 
coming governor took a different position. He endorsed the 
principle that the State instead of individuals or stock com- 
panies should carry on these great improvements. However, 
he thought that if he had been governor at the time that the 
system was inaugurated he would not have been in favor of 
such far reaching enterprises. He felt that since over ten 
millions of dollars had already been spent in the prosecution 
of the original plans, it would be harmful to the good name 
of the State to attempt any curtailment. 

375. Increased Expenditures. — Evidently Governor Car- 
inas views impressed themselves upon the legislators for they 
immediately enlarged the scope of the former plans by the 
expenditure of several hundred thousands of dollars addi- 
tional. The governor's views are further reflected in a report 
from the committee on internal improvement in which the 
chairman took the stand that individuals or corporations 
ought not to be encouraged or even permitted to engage in 
railroad building in competition with the State. 



330 A Student's History of Illinois. 

At this session of the legislature the governor was author- 
ized to borrow $4,000,000 to further the construction of the 
canal. He appointed ex-Governor John Reynolds and Rich- 
ard M. Young to negotiate this loan. Governor Reynolds and 
Senator Young visited New York and placed large quantities 
of the bonds. Governor Reynolds and two of the fund com- 
missioners eventually went to London where other large finan- 
cial transactions took place. The financial agents of the State 
were reckless and in several instances disregarded the law. 
As a result, when the whole affair came to light it appeared 
that out of all the transactions the State was loser to the ex- 
tent of half a million dollars caused by the bungling way in 
which the loans were made. 

376. Special Session. — Through the summer of 1839 the 
people were doing more thinking than they had done for 
some time, and it was easy to figure that it would take some- 
thing over $20,000,000 to finish the improvements as they 
had been planned. It was just as easy to see that at six per 
cent interest the annual interest charge would be in the neigh- 
borhood of $1,300,000. The annual expense of carrying on 
the State government consumed all the income to the State 
from taxation. The work on the railroads was being pushed 
vigorously in many localities and large quantities of money 
were being paid out. 

When the governor came to grasp the situation fully, he 
decided to call the legislature together for the purpose of con- 
sidering the appalling state of affairs. The legislature met on 
the 9th of September. 1839, and listened to the opinion of the 
governor on the outlook. It had only been one short year 
since Governor Duncan had plead very earnestly with the 
legislature to check the growing tendency to reckless venture 
in the internal improvement schemes. Governor Carlin, at 
that time, as earnestly suggested the continuance of the "sys- 
tem." But now we see him facing the other way. He recom- 
mended to this special session such legislation and such man- 



A Student's History of Illinois. 331 

agement as would complete some particular road so that a 
revenue might be realized as soon as possible. 

377. Reversing the Policy. — The legislature was quick to 
take a hint. And while there was an effort to continue cer- 
tain phases of the work the general feeling was that the safest 
and sanest thing to do was to reverse completely the policy. 
Laws were passed abolishing the board of fund commission- 
ers and the board of public works. One fund commissioner 
was then authorized to act but without power to sell. bonds or 
to borrow money on the credit of the State. A board of public 
works, consisting of three members was created. This fund 
commissioner and this board of public works were to wind 
up all business without delay, pay off all contractors in orders 
on the treasury, and discharge all employees except such as 
were absolutely necessary to wind up the business. All bonds 
unsold were to be returned and burned. The new board of 
public works was to take charge and operate any roads which 
were near completion. 

The work on the Illinois and Michigan canal was not 
checked. 

The "Great Northern Cross Railroad," which was being 
constructed from Springfield to Quincy was completed from 
Meredosia to Jacksonville, a distance of about twenty-five miles. 
The total cost of the road between these points was $1,000,- 
000. An engine was put on in 18-12. The income was not as 
large as the expenses and in the course of a year or so the en- 
gine was taken off and the road was leased and run by mule 
power for several years. It was eventually sold for $100,000, 
which was paid for in State stock which was worth twenty- 
one cents on the dollar. 

In 1840 our indebtedness was more than $14,000,000. 
This large debt should, however, be credited by the follow- 
ing items: 



332 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



42,000 acres of land bought by the State, unsold. 

230,407 acres of canal donation unsold. 

3,491 town lots in Chicago, Ottawa, etc. 

210,000 acres of land donated by congress in 1841. 

A large consignment of railroad iron. 

Large pieces of unfinished railroad in the State. 

Illinois and Michigan canal. 

Thus stood the debit and credit sides of the State's account 
in 1840 when the internal improvement schemes collapsed. 



.C 



^~dmi^M^Mm^ 














wawn 

<2/0 '/f/L~y AtAJtna£. /K<^*t«< e/3ivt>u J/ t s».</«~J^,ci£Z* x 



U b--u- ~c± 



~<)L> - rl—jo 



Ahr&oryx Lincoln HisBjoIt 




A Page from Lincoln's Exercise Book. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



333 




GOVERNOR THOMAS CARLIN. 

1 838— J 842. 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 



ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR CARLIN. 

378. A Campaign. — It will be recalled that the unfortu- 
nate internal improvement venture had its beginning in the 
administration of Governor Duncan. In the first two years 
of Governor Duncan's term, the public mind was largely oc- 
cupied with the banking business and with the Illinois and 
Michigan canal. From the meeting of the legislature in De- 
cember, 1836, to the end of Governor Carlin's term, the ab- 
sorbing topic was internal improvement. In the midst, there- 
fore, of this wild excitement concerning railroad and canal 
building, the building of cities and towns, and the issuing of 



334 A Student's History of Illinois. 

bonds by the millions, a campaign was waged for the gover- 
norship of the State. 

The election for governor and other offices was held in 
August, 1838. There were two leading candidates for gover- 
nor. Cyrus W. Edwards, a Whig, announced his candidacy 
and allied himself with the improvement system. His oppon- 
ent was Thomas Carlin, of Carrollton, Greene county. Mr. 
Carlin was a "Democrat of the straightest sect." Notwith- 
standing the important local interest of the State the cam- 
paign managers apparently recognized the national interest 
as paramount. The Whig ticket in Morgan county was 
headed "Anti-Sub-treasury Ticket. For a sound specie-pay- 
ing National Bank, and for curtailing the Internal Improve- 
ment System." To meet this array of political principles the 
opposing ticket read "For the Sub-treasury. Against a Na- 
tional Bank, and for a vigorous prosecution and final comple- 
tion of the Internal Improvement System." 

379. Legislation. — The canvass was a strenuous one and 
was participated in by the leading Whigs and Democrats. The 
Democrats were victorious by a majority of less than 1,000 
votes. The legislature met in December and Governor Car- 
lin was inducted into office. He unfortunately encouraged the 
improvement people and, as has been said, nearly a million 
dollars additional appropriations were added to the improve- 
ment schemes. In addition some measures of general inter- 
est were passed ; one to establish the library for the supreme 
court; one to establish the Illinois Asylum for the education 
of the deaf and dumb; one requiring the governor to reside 
at the seat of government of the State. 

We have already spoken of the removal of the capital from 
Vandalia to Springfield. The constitution of 1818 provided 
that the capital should remain in Kaskaskia until removed 
by action of the general assembly. It also provided that when 
so removed it must remain where located for twenty years. 
The legislature of 1836-7, by a vote of the senate and house. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



335 



located the capital at Springfield. In the session of the legis- 
lature of 1838-9, steps were taken for the transfer of the rec- 
ords and other belongings of the State. A state house was 
under construction, but not complete, and at the convening 




Old Capitol in Springfield, now used as the Sangamon County Court House. 



of the legislature in special session on December 9, 1839, the 
use of the Second Presbyterian church was secured for the 
sittings of the house; the Methodist church, for the senate; 
and the Episcopal church for the supreme court. 

380. The Capitol. — The capitol which was undergoing 
construction was to be a very elegant and commodious build- 
ing. It was located in the center of the square, and was 123 
feet long, 89 feet wide, and 44 feet high. It was constructed 
from native stone quarried only a few miles from the town. 
At the north and south ends very large round pillars sup- 
ported a projecting portico, and the whole was surmounted 
by a dome of proper proportion. It is still standing and has 
been extensively repaired, and enlarged by putting an extra 



336 A Student's History of Illinois. 

story between the basement and what was formerly the first 
story. It is now the court house for Sangamon county. 

The special session of the legislature which met in Spring- 
field December 9, 1839, was chiefly concerned about the wind- 
ing up of the affairs of the collapsed improvement scheme. 
The session was adjourned February 3, 1840. 

381. Great Orators. — The great "Tippecanoe and Tyler 
too 7 ' campaign of 1810 was warmly contested in Illinois. It 
was in this campaign that the wonderful powers of Lincoln 
and Douglas as public orators became known through the 
State and the nation. Illinois was divided into three congres- 
sional districts, the third being made of the thirty-four north- 
ern counties. Stephen A. Douglas and Mr. John T. Stuart, 
Lincoln's law partner, were candidates for congress in this 
district in 1838, and Stuart was elected by fourteen votes. 
In the canvass of 1810 this district was therefore fighting 
ground. The Whigs planned a large meeting in Springfield 
in June, 1840. Lincoln was one of the five presidential elec- 
tors and he was very anxious not to be defeated. To this 
meeting came 20,000, some said 50,000 people. They came 
from as far north as Chicago. It took fourteen teams to 
bring the Chicago delegation and they were three weeks on 
the journey. They brought a two-masted ship with a band 
of music and a six pound cannon. Delegations came from all 
directions. A log cabin was drawn in the procession by thirty 
yoke of oxen, and in a hickory tree planted by the side of this 
cabin live coons were playing; a barrel of hard cider stood 
near the door. Lincoln made a great speech, possibly several 
during the day, from a wagon. Thousands of people crowded 
around him. He was then only thirty-one years old, but was 
rapidly coming into public favor. 

. The Democrats held enthusiastic gatherings throughout 
the State at which eloquent speakers praised the virtues of 
"little Van." The Democrats carried Illinois by a majority 
of 1,939. This is accounted for by noting the vote along the 



A Student's History of Illinois. 337 

canal and in Cook and St. Clair counties. Here the foreign 
vote was large, and they are supposed to have voted with the 
Democrats. The questions over which these two parties 
fought their campaign were: Internal improvements by the 
general government, United States Bank, Protective Tariff, 
National Economy. 

382. Repudiation. — There was also elected in the fall of 
1840 a legislature. And instead of selecting men who were 
especially fitted to solve the problems arising in the State, 
men were selected largely by reason of their affiliation with 
national parties. There was a lack of sympathy between 
these strong partisans when they came together in the State 
legislature, and often the interests of the State suffered by 
reason thereof. 

There was some talk in the years of 1839-40-41, of re- 
pudiating the State's great debt. This is usually considered 
a very unpatriotic proceeding. A state may, however, re- 
pudiate its debt and there were those who were favorable to 
such action. Of course few public men talked of repudiation 
openly, but privately many were favorable to it. Governor 
Ford, in his history, says : "It is my solemn belief that when 
I came into office, I had the power to make Illinois a repudi- 
ating State." Governor Ford means that all the people 
needed was a bold leader. But no legislative action was ever 
taken which looked toward repudiation. The State's indebt- 
edness was eventually paid and the honor of the State saved. 

383. Questionable Politics.— A rather complicated and 
undignified, if not disgraceful, incident occurred in the years 
1840-1. It will be remembered that the last legislation on 
the judiciary created a supreme court with four judges, Thos. 
W. Smith, Samuel D. Lockwood, Win. Wilson, and Thomas 
C. Brown. At the same time a circuit court was organized 
with five judges. This number had, however, grown to nine 
by 1841. Three of the supreme court judges were Whigs — 
Lockwood, Wilson, and Brown. Smith was a Democrat. The 



338 A Student's History of Illinois. 

election in Illinois in the fall of 1840 had gone Democratic. 
Governor Carlin tried to replace Alexander P. Field as secre- 
tary of state by appointment of John A. McClemand. The 
senate, though Democratic, refused to confirm the appoint- 
ment. At the end of the session the governor made a recess 
appointment, but Field refused to give up the office. The 
matter went before the supreme court which decided against 
the governor's position. The court was called a "Whig court" 
and the decision said to be a partisan decision. Another case 
went before the supreme court, relative to the right of aliens 
to vote in general elections. 

The case was before the court in the summer of 1840. If 
the court decide against the aliens, the State might go for 
the Whigs. To prevent a deeison, Judge Smith is said to 
have pointed out a flaw in the papers, by reason of which the 
case was postponed ; and thus a decision averse to the alien's 
voting was prevented. Public charges were made against the 
Whig members of the court, which the entire court, including 
Smith, promptly and publicly denied. The charges and coun- 
tercharges involved the honor of Judge Smith, Stephen A. 
Douglas, Murray McConnell, and others. Governor Ford 
says: "As to Judge Smith, he made nothing by all his in- 
trigues.'' 

In December, before the supreme court had rendered a 
decision on the right of aliens to vote, a bill was introduced 
which provided for the repeal of the law creating the circuit 
courts, and added five members to the supreme court, and fur- 
ther required that court to hold all the circuit courts in addi- 
tion to their duties as a supreme court. The bill was vigor- 
ously opposed by the Whigs and by those Democrats whose 
friends on the circuit bench would be legislated out of office. 
The nine circuit judges were mostly Democrats. But the 
leading Democrats were bent on making the supreme court 
Democratic and the measure carried. The council of revision 
returned the bill with their disapproval, but it was as promptly 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



339 



passed over their veto. The legislature then proceeded to 
elect the five new members of the supreme court. They were 
Stephen A. Douglas, Thos. Ford, Sidney Breese, Walter B. 
Scates, Samuel H. Treat — all Democrats. 

The supreme court as now constituted was the object of 
attack by the Whig newspapers. Besides, public charges of 
incompetency were filed with the legislature against Judge 
Brown, but no definite action was ever taken. The entire 
court was relieved in 1848 when the second constitution went 
into effect. 




tew of Kaskaskia in 1893. 



340 A Student's History of Illinois. 



CHAPTEE XXXV. 

ANOTHER SHORT RETROSPECT. 

384. Signs of Growth. — The wonderfully rapid advance 
in the State up to 1840 may be shown in many ways, but in 
none better than by that of the growth in population, towns, 
counties, and industries. By the end of 1840 there were 
eighty-eight counties organized. Fifteen of these had been 
organized in 1839. The population of the State by the cen- 
sus of 1840 was 476,183. In 1830 it was only 157,445. This 
was a gain of more than 200 per cent in ten years. Of course 
this wonderful increase in population came chiefly from im- 
migration. This came from the northeast, and found its 
way into the northern counties. 

All of the fifteen counties organized in 1839 were toward 
the center or in the north part of the State. These immi- 
grants brought with them some money; this, together with 
that being distributed by the contractors on the railroads 
and the canal, made money quite plentiful. However, this 
money did not last long for people in the flush of good times 
were buying greatly beyond their needs, and merchants were 
encouraging this reckless expenditure on the part of the great 
body of the people by selling on credit. 

The growth of towns was not the least mark of progress 
visible from 1830 to 1840. At the time of the moving of the 
capital from Vandalia to Springfield the latter town had a 
population of some 1,500, and while everything about the 
town was prosperous, it was crude. The roads were fre- 
quently impassable, the houses were such as are usually found 
in a new town, but the people were energetic and full of hope. 

The new State House had been commenced in 1837. It 
was begun with an estimated cost of $130,000, but as is usu- 



A Student's History of Illinois. 341 

ally the case in such matters, it was soon seen that it would cost 
twice that sum. Jacksonville, Chicago, Alton, Quincy, Galena, 
and Nauvoo were large towns, most of them chartered cities. 
The county seat was usually the largest town in the county, 
and was marked hy a good courthouse and a fairly good jail. 
Hotels were becoming differentiated from residences, and 
churches were being erected in all large towns. 

385. Newspapers. — We have already made mention of the 
five newspapers that took part in the convention struggle. The 
power of the press was clearly seen in that great contest, and 
newspapers came into active co-operation with public oratory 
as an agency of persuasive power. The increase in numbers 
was not very marked before 1830, but from that date on there 
was a very rapid growth in the establishing of newspapers. 
The newspapers which were established in the county seats 
were owned, or at least controlled, by the politicians. There 
was no great demand for newspapers on the part of the mer- 
chants or professional men and only those deeply interested in 
politics got much from their perusal. 

It is said that often an issue would have in it only some 
recent laws, either national or state, or a discussion of poli- 
tics. Local items did not occupy a very large space in the 
paper. "The birth of a two-headed calf, or the sale of a 900 
pound hog, or a visit of the member of congress might be re- 
corded in a line or two, but it required some such event to 
produce a local item." The suppression of the Alton Ob- 
server and the death of its editor has already been noted. A 
mob destroyed another paper in the city of Nauvoo a little 
later than 1840— in 1844. 

There were no daily papers in Illinois till 1847, when the 
Gazette at Galena was begun, June 1. Among the men ac- 
tively engaged in the newspaper business prior to 1840, may 
be mentioned John Wentworth, Chas. Lanphier, S. S. Brook?, 
and Rev. J. M. Peck. "The old time editor was one of na- 
ture's most perfect composites. In the office he was type- 



342 ^ Student's History of Illinois. 

setter, job-printer, pressman, bookkeeper, business manager, 
and editor. He was prominent in every movement that was 
for the benefit of his town. He was secretary for his party 
conventions and committees. Sometimes he was the leader 
in the church and superintendent of the Sunday School, and 
sometimes he did a great deal more than his share towards 
raising the government revenue." 

386. Religion. — The cause of religion had not suffered in 
the decades prior to 1840. Godly men and women everywhere 
were active in the work of the church. In the earlier days 
the preaching was done in private houses, in vacant build- 
ings, or in groves. Before 1840 churches were erected in 
many rural communities. These were at first constructed of 
logs, and later frame buildings were erected. There are such 
buildings now standing in some parts of Illinois which were 
erected as early as 1840. However, school houses, where there 
were any, were often used for religious purposes. Eural bury- 
ing grounds were frequently located near the neighborhood 
church and both were usually placed near the public road. 
But church building was much more active in the towns than 
in the country. Chicago had a Presbyterian church house as 
early as 1833. The Catholics also built in Chicago as early 
as 1834. The same year the Episcopal church was organized 
but it was 1835 before they erected what afterward came to 
be known as St. James' chapel, a modest brick building. 
Brown's History, published in 1844, says, "In Chicago con- 
taining a little more than 8,000 people, we have two churches 
for Presbyterians; two for Episcopalians; two for Catholics; 
one for Unitarians; one for ITniversalists ; one for German 
Lutherans ; and one Bethel church for sailors. A society also 
of Swedenborgians has been organized ; and another of Latter 
Day Saints or Mormons." 

It cannot be affirmed that the preachers of these early days 
were always men of culture and education. But it can be 
truthfully said that they were men full of zeal and of self- 



A Student's History of Illinois. 343 

sacrifice. They were physically strong and morally coura- 
geous. Theirs was a work requiring great physical endurance. 
A large part of their time was spent on horse-back in going 
from one appointment to another. This gave excellent oppor- 
tunity for reflection. 

In addition to the regular preaching service which might 
be held in the home, the vacant house, or the church, there 
was a form of religious meeting in these early days known as 
the campmeeting, which has been superseded in these latter 
days by the revival. 

387. The Campmeeting. — Possibly the first camp meeting 
in Illinois was held by the Rev. Jesse Walker, a Methodist 
circuit rider, about 1807. In the summer of that year he held 
two camp meetings, one at Shiloh, in St. Clair county, six 
miles northeast of Belleville, and one in Madison county, a 
few miles south of Edwardsville. The plan was to select a 
site where there was plenty of shade and good water. All the 
friends were invited to come and assist in clearing up the 
ground, building seats, and putting up tents. When things 
were in readiness the place was dedicated with a season of 
prayer. To this place people came for miles. They camped 
and stayed for several days. There was an early morning 
service before the breakfast was eaten, another about ten in the 
forenoon, one at about three in the afternoon, and a fourth 
one at night. This latter was the chief service of the day. 
Lights were hung about the grove, and men acted as watch- 
men to guard property and to keep order. The congregation 
joined in singing — always from memory, — prayers were of- 
fered, and experiences given. The preacher then launched 
into a two hours' exposition of the scripture, dwelling par- 
ticularly and forcibly on the certainty of eternal damnation 
for those who should die in their sins. The wierd situation 
in the stillness of the forest, the apparent authority with which 
the minister denounced their sins, and the singing, shouting, 
and praying of the vast multitude was enough to bring the 



344 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



hardest sinners to a serious consideration of their lost condi- 
tion. This form of religous revival continued to be popular 
till the middle of the last century. 

388. Peter Cartwright. — The most noted pioneer preacher 
in Illinois was the Rev. Peter Cartwright. He was born in 




Rev. Peter Cartwright. 



Virginia as early as 1785, and died at his home in Pleasant 
Plains, Sangamon county, September 25, 1872. He came 
into Illinois in 1824, after a residence of several years in 
Kentucky. He was a regularly ordained preacher for more 
than sixty-five years. From the date of his coming to this 
State till the year of his death he was intimately identified 
with the work of spreading the gospel in nearly every section 
of the State. He served in the legislature and was otherwise 
interested in politics. Many stories are told of his power as 
a preacher, and of his vigorous opposition to wrong doing 
wherever he found it. It is sometimes stated he was lacking 



A Student's History of Illinois. 345 

in culture and education. This is a wrong notion of the man 
He could adapt himself to his conditions and usually did so, 
from which it may have been inferred he was crude and un- 
lettered. He was a warm friend of education and says him- 
self that he was instrumental in putting ten thousand dollars 
worth of books into the homes of the pioneers of Illinois. He 
was a member of the Methodist church. 

389. Churches in Chicago. — The Eev. Jeremiah Porter, 
who organized "The First Presbyterian Church of Chicago/' 
was a sort of chaplain to the army at Sault Ste. Marie, Michi- 
gan, in the autumn of 1831. While here he heard of the 
building of the first lighthouse in Chicago, and of the mak- 
ing of a port of entry at the mouth of the Chicago river. In 
1832 considerable interest was created concerning the village 
of Chicago on account of the Black Hawk war, and the chol- 
era in General Scott's army at that point. 

In May, 1833, the troops with whom the Eeverend Porter 
was working, were moved to Chicago. Mr. Porter says there 
was at that time, only one house in Milwaukee, that of Solo- 
mon Juneau, the agent for the American Fur Company. The 
Eev. Mr. Porter says that when he arrived in Chicago there 
were at that place probably 300 people including two com- 
panies in the fort. 

There was no building except the log school house in which 
the people could worship. A young man by the name of Philo 
Carpenter had been conducting a sort of Sunday School with 
a few christians. Here Mr. Porter met an old schoolmate, 
Mr. John Wright, who was deeply interested in religious 
work. Methodist circuit riders had preached in Chicago. The 
Eev. Jesse Walker preached monthly in the log school house. 
There was no church house nearer than Princeton. Mr. Por- 
ter says that two officers, three wives of officers, and ten sol- 
diers of the fort were christians. With these religious people 
of the fort, together with a few people of the village, the 
Eev. Porter organized the first church in Chicago, June, 1833. 



346 A Student's History of Illinois. 

390. Baptists. — When some one said Chicago was destined 
to become a great city an army officer said, "That can't be, 
for there is no back country to sustain a city/' The Baptists 
soon after organized a church in a log school house with the 
Rev. Allen B. Freeman as pastor. The first church was built 
by the Rev. Porter at the cost of $600. It was dedicated Jan- 
uary 4, 1834. The Baptists and Presbyterians worshiped to- 
gether till this building was completed. In December, 1834, 
the Baptist pastor, the Rev. Freeman, died. There were four 
preachers present at the funeral, Rev. J. W. Hallam, of the 
Episcopal church ; Rev. John Mitchell, of the Methodist 
church ; Reverend Ambrose, of the Baptist church, and the 
Reverend Porter. 

391. Other Churches. — Mr. J. H. Kinzie, who laid out the 
town, was instrumental in establishing an Episcopal church. 
This was done with the Reverend Dyer as pastor, in the fall 
of 1834. 

The Methodists built a church and school house as early 
as 1834 and had a pastor, Rev. John Mitchell, a graduate of 
Illinois College. 

The Catholics had in Col. J. Baptiste Beaubien, post- 
trader for the American Fur Company, and in his family 
staunch supporters. A house of worship for Catholics was 
built as early as 1833. It was a frame house and stood on 
Madison street near Wabash avenue. The first priest was 
Father St. Cry. The only brick church was the one built by 
the Episcopal Congregation. 

392. Education. — The cause of education had not pros- 
pered greatly prior to 1840. The law providing for a public 
school system introduced into the legislature by Joseph Dun- 
can in 1825, was so modified in the next two or three legisla- 
tures that nothing of it remained which might constitute a 
basis for a future system. From 1829 to 1855 there was no 
free public school system such as we have today. Schools 
were maintained by subscriptions from those sending to them, 



A Student's History of Illinois. 347 

supplemented by the distribution of a small fund to the teach- 
ers of the township in proportion to their attendance of pupils. 
In spite of this discouraging situation the people maintained 
schools quite generally. 

393. Shurtleff College. — Nor were the common schools the 
only source of knowledge and culture prior to 1840. For 
from the very earliest coming of the missionaries of the great 
religious bodies there was constant agitation for higher edu- 
cation. Without doubt the Rev. J. M. Peck, without whose 
life work the history of Illinois would be incomplete, was the 
first person to take definite action looking toward the estab- 
lishment of a seminary or college. On New Year's Day, 

1826, he invited all who were interested in a seminary to meet 
at his home, and at this meeting it was decided to found "The 
Theological Seminary and High School." Mr. Peck lived at 
Rock Springs, a village eight and a half miles northeast of 
Belleville, St. Clair county. Here the seminary was to be 
located. Dr. Peck had already solicited funds for such a 
school and to these funds additional ones were now added. 
The board of trustees elected the Rev. Joshua Bradley, prin- 
cipal , Dr. J. M. Peck, professor of christian theology, and 
John Messenger, professor of mathematics and natural philos- 
ophy. There were enrolled the first year more than a hun- 
dred students. The school flourished, and in 1831 it was 
transferred to Alton where it became the foundation of Shurt- 
leff College. 

394. Mc Kendree College. — At the meeting of the Illinois 
Conference of the M. E. church in Mt. Carmel in September, 

1827, a petition from Greene county prayed for the estab- 
lishment of a seminary of learning to be under the control of 
the conference. A committee was appointed to take the mat- 
ter under advisement. The people of White Hall, Greene 
county, had actually commenced buildings, but in February, 

1828, the people of Lebanon had taken action and had begun 
to build a seminary. The conference of 1828 suggested to 



348 A Student's History of Illinois. 

unite the two and locate the school at Lebanon. This was 
done. Subscriptions to the amount of $1,385, were made, 
trustees appointed, and the school opened in an old public 
school building on November 24, 1828. E. R. Ames, after- 
ward bishop in the M. E. church, was principal, and a Miss 
McMurphy was assistant. They enrolled seventy-two stu- 
dents. The income was $464.41, of which the principal got 
$115 and Miss McMurphy got $83.33 for the first term of five 
months. This was the humble beginning of McKendree 
College. 

395. Illinois College. — The Presbyterians who were very 
active in missionary work in an early day, were also deeply 
interested in the cause of education. One of their ministers, 
the Eev. John M. Ellis, travelled extensively in the State in 
1826-8. The Eev. Mr. Ellis seemed to bear a load of respon- 
sibility for the founding of a college. He solicited funds for 
that purpose. In 1828 he was on a trip to the Sangamon coun- 
try and passed through Jacksonville. He liked the country 
very much, and immediately decided to found here a college 
or seminary. He bought eighty acres of ground and wrote 
saying, "A seminary of learning is projected to go into effect 

next fall. The subscription now stands $2,000 or $3,000 

the half quarter section purchased for it is certainly the most 
delightful spot I have ever seen. It is about one mile north 
of the celebrated Diamond Grove and overlooks the town and 
country for several miles around." 

Reverend Ellis got in touch with seven consecrated young 
men in Yale University who were fired with his own spirit 
for better things for the west and $10,000 was raised in the 
east in the summer of 1829. The school was opened in small 
buildings January 1, 1830. In 1832 it was merged into the 
Illinois College and Dr. Edward Beecher was made president. 
Prof. John Russell, of Bhiffdale, Greene county, delivered the 
inaugural address. It was delivered in Latin, greatly to the 
edification of the scholarly gentlemen present. Professor 



A Student's History of Illinois. 349 

Bnssell had served as teacher in Shurtleff College one year 
and was the most finished scholar in the west at that time. 

396. Jubilee College. — Philander Chase was made bishop 
of Illinois (Episcopal) in 1835. He visited England and so- 
licited funds with which to found a college in Illinois. This 
college was located near Peoria in 1838. A tract of land of 
3,910 acres originally belonged to the college. The college 
buildings were very extensive for those days. On this im- 
mense tract of land there were farms, stock, a sawmill, etc. 
All profits from the land went to the college. 

397. Jonesboro College. — This college was chartered in 
the Omnibus Bill of 1835. The school was to be founded by 
the Christian church, but it seems no progress was ever made 
in the matter of collecting funds, and the school was never 
opened. 

The friends to higher education in Illinois prior to the 
year 1840 were found chiefly among the zealous religious 
workers. Nearly all the agitation concerning education was 
by preachers and missionaries; and all the practical begin- 
nings were fostered by the friends of the church. The 
churches in those days were not free from jealous rivalry and 
dogmatic discussions. In fact the feeling was often quite bitter, 
and outsiders were not without grounds for saying that event- 
ually some dominant religious body might attempt to join 
church and state. Several attempts had been made by the 
friends of these colleges to get the legislature to grant char- 
ters, but that body had stubbornly refused to grant such 
requests. 

In 1835, the friends of the colleges at Jacksonville, Alton, 
and Lebanon, with perhaps some friends of the school to be 
founded at Jonesboro, Union county, prayed the legislature 
for charters. The petition was referred to a committee which 
reported favorably and an omnibus charter was granted cre- 
ating the boards of trustees of "The Alton College of Illinois" 



350 A Student's History of Illinois. 

(ShurtlefT College); "Illinois College;'' "McKendreean Col- 
lege;* 7 and "The Jonesboro College." 

Other academies and colleges had their origin prior to 
1840. Peck's Gazetteer, published in 1837, mentions the fol- 
lowing : McDonough College at Macomb ; Canton College in 
Fulton county; the Oneida Institute at Galesburg; Belvi- 
dere College in Winnebago county; Jacksonville Academy; 
Jacksonville Female Academy; Alton Female Academy 
(Monticello). "The Beformers or Campbellites as some 
term them, have a charter and contemplate establishing a 
college at Hanover in Tazewell county." Academies were 
founded in Springfield, Princeton, Griggsville, and Quincy. 
The legislative sessions of 183G-9 chartered not less than forty 
schools, denominational academies, seminaries, and colleges. 

This brief survey is sufficient to show that there was no 
lack of appreciation of the advantage of a liberal education 
among our pioneer fathers. 

398. Society. — The social side of life was improving. 
Towns, churches, and schools greatly added to the tone of so- 
cial life. Lincoln wrote to Miss Mary Owen about 1838-40: 
"I am afraid you would not be satisfied. There is a great deal 
of flourishing about in carriages here (Springfield) which it 
would be your doom to see without sharing it. You would 
have to be poor without the means of hiding it." "We used 
to eat altogether but about this time, 1838, some one came 
along and told the people they ought not to do so — and then 
the hired folks ate in the kitchen." There was some attention 
given to social matters in all the towns of any size, but in the 
country 'tis true the social standard was quite low. 

In some of the northern counties the lands were not on 
the market by 1840. But settlers had selected their claims 
and had made improvements on them expecting just as soon 
as the land came into market to enter the tract they had im- 
proved. There was a sort of unwritten law that all settlers 
were to stand by one another as against a speculator or what 



A Student's History of Illinois. 351 

was known as "claim jumpers." Against the claims which 
these new comers made to certain improved lands the whole 
body of settlers protested and often so vigorously as to make 
it exceedingly uncomfortable for the "claim jumper/' per- 
sonal violence often resulting from attempts to jump claims. 
There were in other northern counties bands of rogues, 
thieves, and toughs generally, who made life miserable and 
property insecure. They dominated the courts in large meas- 
ure and in various ways kept free from punishment. A new 
courthouse just finished in Oregon, Ogle county, in 1841, was 
burned by friends of seven outlaws who were then in jail, in 
the hope that the prisoners would make their escape from the 
"jail near by. The good people were forced to form themselves 
into companies of regulators for the safety of life and prop- 
erty. A very noted family, the Driscolls, were known to be 
very hardened criminals, and they were ordered to leave the 
neighborhood. A Captain Campbell, of the regulators, was 
shot in cold blood by some one of this family. A mob caught 
two of the members, father and son, and after a regulator's 
trial, sentenced them to be shot, the whole company of regu- 
lators firing at once upon the two culprits as they knelt blind- 
folded before their executioners. This reads like a vigorous 
remedy, but it may have been the only one which this early 
people could find that was effective. 



352 



A Student's History of Illinois. 




GOVERNOR THOMAS FORD. 

J 842— J 846. 



CHAPTER XXXVI. 



GOVERNOR THOMAS FORD. 

399. Conventions. — Conventions for the nomination of 
candidates were a part of the party machinery by 1842. It 
appears also that people in those days believed in long drawn 
out campaigns, for as early as December, 1841, the Demo- 
cratic State convention was held in Springfield for the nom- 
ination of candidates for State offices. The honors fell upon 
Adam W. Snyder, of St. Clair county, for governor, and upon 
John Moore, of McLean county, for lieutenant governor. In 
the spring of 1842 ex-Governor Duncan became the Whig 



A Student's History of Illinois. 353 

candidate for governor, and W. H. Henderson, for lieutenant 
governor. The campaign promised to be a very interesting 
one because of the Mormon problem which was just then at- 
tracting attention. The Mormons had made liberal requests 
upon the legislature and it appears that Mr. Snyder, who was 
a member of that body, had been quite active in assisting them 
to secure what they desired. This fact was used against him 
and would probably have seriously hindered him in his can- 
vass. But in the early summer Mr. Snyder died and it was 
necessary for the party to put forward another standard 
bearer. 

400. Thomas Ford. — A democratic caucus was called at 
Springfield in June, and Thomas Ford, a judge on the su- 
preme bench, was selected as the candidate. Judge Ford was 
an ideal candidate for office — he was not an office seeker. He 
had come to Illinois as early as 1808. He was a poor boy 
whose father had been massacred by the Indians in Pennsyl- 
vania. He had been fortunate to have for his friend Daniel 
P. Cook, who assisted young Ford in many ways. Judge Ford 
had held the office of State's attorney, and also various judge- 
ships. He in no way could be charged with interest in, or 
sympathy for, the Mormons. The times were indeed in need of 
a wise counselor and a courageous leader and no one was better 
fitted to save the State from the impending dishonor of re- 
pudiation. 

401. The Canvass. — The canvass was spirited, the chief 
topics being the Mormons, the canal, the banks, and the claims 
of Wisconsin to the fourteen counties in the northern part of 
the State. Duncan had the advantage of previous campaign- 
ing and was, besides, a strong candidate. Judge Ford no 
doubt thought it wise not to express too freely his views upon 
the troublesome questions — for they were all troublesome — 
and so was accused by Duncan of keeping from the people his 
real position on the questions of the day. When the ballots 
were counted Ford had beaten Duncan by over 8,000 votes. 



354 A Student's History of Illinois. 

The legislature was very largely Democratic. Many promi- 
nent in the later history of the State and the nation were 
present as members of the legislature when it met in De- 
cember, 1842. Two future governors, Matteson and Yates, 
were members. 

402. Depression. — Governor Ford's inaugural message was 
full of vigorous suggestions for the legislature. He was in 
favor of paying every dollar of the State's indebtedness, he 
favored finishing the canal, and declared the banks should re- 
sume specie payment or suffer their business to be wound up 
by the State. He found the annual expense of carrying on 
the State government $170,000 per year, while the receipts 
were only $140,000, leaving a deficit of $30,000 each year. In 
this way a floating debt had grown to $313,000. Auditor's 
warrants on the treasury were selling for fifty cents on the 
dollar, while the internal improvement bonds were worth but 
fourteen cents on the dollar. No one seemed to know just 
what to do ; all were appalled by a bonded indebtedness of 
something near $15,000,000. Many were in favor of public 
repudiation though not generally openly announcing their 
views. The fact is that very few of the members of the legis- 
lature had had enough experience in handling large financial 
ventures to have any conception of the problem before them. 

403. Canal Plan.— Mr. Justin Butterfield, of Chicago, a 
lawyer of eminent ability, and withal a patriotic man, brought 
forward a scheme for the completion of the canal. 

This was a proposition to the holders of the canal bonds 
to advance $160,000, the amount thought necessary to finish 
the canal, and to take a lien on the canal and all its property 
together with its income. This loan and all bonds held by 
those who would advance this money were to become a sort 
of preferred claim against the canal and its interests. This, 
after considerable investigation and consideration was agreed 
to and the completion of the canal assured. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 355 

404. The Banks. — The next thing in which the governor 
was interested was the State Bank, for he knew that rash 
measures toward the banks would be looked upon with sus- 
picion by those upon whom we were depending to finish the 
canal. His idea was a compromise. He drew the bill himself 
and it was passed by the house by 107 to 4. A similar bill 
also passed relative to the Shawneetown Bank. This bill pro- 
vided that the banks which held more than $3,000,000 of bonds, 
auditor's warrants, etc., against the State should turn them 
over to the State, while the State should surrender a like 
amount of bank stock, dollar for dollar. This arrangement 
with the two banks reduced the State's indebtedness over $3,- 
000,000. The bills also provided that the banks should go into 
liquidation. 

405. A Brighter Outlook. — Another law was passed which 
made the governor the fund commissioner. He and the audi- 
tor were to have charge of all the property connected with the 
improvement scheme. They were to collect all this material 
and turn it into cash. A resolution was passed which pledged 
the State to the payment of every dollar of indebtedness which 
had been contracted in the internal improvement venture. All 
that was done by this legislature under the guidance of Gov- 
ernor Ford seems to have been safe and sane. At least it was 
so regarded at the time, for auditor's warrants rose from fifty 
cents on the dollar, at the beginning of Ford's term, to ninety 
cents and above. State bonds were fourteen cents on the dol- 
lar at the beginning of the administration and before Ford 
went out of office they were fifty cents. 

It is also said that as much as $5,000,000 of the debt was 
wiped out by the increase in the value of the lands and ap- 
purtenances of the canal and railroad. Again, at the close 
of Governor Ford's term the floating debt was $31,212 instead 
of $313,000 as at the beginning. In many ways there was a 
restoration of confidence. Immigration was renewed and the 
population reached three quarters of a million. 



356 A Student's Histcry of Illinois. 



CHAPTER XXXVII. 

THE STORY OF THE MORMONS. 

406. Joseph Smith. — There is scarcely another story in all 
the history of the State so intensely interesting, so genuinely 
dramatic, or so politically intricate, as the story of the com- 
ing, the short stay, and the departure of the Mormons, or 
Latter Day Saints. To understand the story which forms the 
basis of so very much Illinois history, it is necessary to know 
something of this people prior to their coming to this State. 
Joseph Smith, usually called the founder of this faith, was 
born in Vermont, December 23, 1805. He was of poor and 
uncultured parentage. When Joseph was ten years old his 
parents moved to Palmyra, Wayne county, New York. The 
boy semed to have been a dreamy youth and the father a 
visionary and indolent parent. One Sidney Rigdon, a schemer 
of some ability, was much in the company of young Joseph. 
They read a religious romance which seems to have determined 
their course. Rigdon proposed to start a new religon of which 
Joseph should be the prophet. The plan was matured and 
Joseph began to have visions, and communications with the 
angels of the Lord. Smith claimed that he was directed by 
the angel to visit a certain hill on the road from Palmyra to 
Canandaiagua, near Manchester, Xew York, where he found 
in a stone box, a book of golden leaves upon which was writ- 
ten the story of a great struggle betwen the christians and 
the heathen on this continent. The last great battle occurred 
near Palmyra, and among the few christians who survived 
was one Mormon and his son Moroni, who wrote under the 
direction of God the book of Mormon. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



357 



Smith had the spot where this book was buried revealed 
to him, September 23, 1823. He was then a lad of eighteen 
years. In the box with the book there were two stones, the 
Urim and Thummim, by which he was enabled to translate 
the written page. In order to reinforce his story, Smith had 
three witnesses, all of whom swore that they had seen the 
plates or leaves of the book and that an angel had given Smith 
the power to translate them. 

407. Church Organized. — Smith was careful enough not 
to have too many witnesses and was thus able to keep every- 
thing in a deep mystery and we all know how attractive mys- 
terious things are. He 
soon announced his com- 
mission and began to 
gather about him quite a 
number of devoted, if de- 
luded, followers. On 
April 6, 1830, all of 
those who had gathered 
about Smith were organ- 
ized into a church in 
Manchester, New York. 
In 1833, when their 
members had consider- 
ably increased they 
moved to Jackson county, 
Missouri, and began the 
Joseph Smith. town of Independence, 

some ten miles east of Kansas City. In the meantime their 
preachers had gone out among the byways and hedges and 
were gathering into the faith hundreds of people. In many 
instances these formed little nuclei here and there from which 
additional missionaries were sent out. At Kirtland, near 
Cleveland, Ohio, there was a rallying point. Here Smith 
stayed for some time and ran a bank, which eventually failed. 




358 A Student's History of Illinois. 

His followers were driven out of Independence and took 
refuge in Clay county, just north of Jackson. Smith, him- 
self, now feared to remain in Ohio where he and Hyrum, his 
brother, had both been tarred and feathered, so with his fol- 
lowers, he removed to Missouri and settled in Caldwell and 
Davis counties to the north of their friends in Clay county. 
Here they bought large tracts of land, but the saints and the 
Gentiles did not get along well together. The clerk of the cir- 
cuit court was ordered by Smith to issue no more writs against 
the saints, and Smith's evil genius, Sidney Eigdon, preached 
a sermon in which he announced that the prophet had de- 
termined no longer to regard the government and laws of 
Missouri. 

408. Civil Disorder. — The Gentiles claimed that armed 
bands of Mormons scoured the country taking whatever they 
found, which they thought would fill up the Lord's treasury. 
They announced that the country was theirs and all that it 
contained. Civil strife ensued. The Missourians gathered 
under General Doniphan and marched toward the Mormon 
City of Far West. The Mormons were well armed and a 
severe engagement occurred in which the State troops were 
victorious. The Mormons surrendered and it is said much of 
the stolen goods was returned to the owners. The leaders, 
including Joseph Smith, were court martialed and ordered 
shot. General Doniphan succeeded in staying the proceedings 
and the offenders were all placed in jail from which they es- 
caped, before they could be tried in the civil courts. They 
soon made their way beyond the reach of Missouri law. 

There can be little doubt that one of the chief causes of 
the intense hatred of the people of Missouri toward the Mor- 
mons had its basis in the fact that these people were bitterly 
opposed to slavery. It is said, with authority, that the belief 
of the Mormons at this time was that slavery was morally 
and religiously wrong. And further that most of the leading 
men in the church were opposed to discussing the matter pub- 



A Student's History of Illinois. 359 

licly. Notwithstanding a vigorous protest by the leaders, cer- 
tain preachers were continually flaunting their belief in the 
face of the people of Missouri, and this doubtles increased the 
desire of the people to be rid of the Mormons. 

409. Driven from Missouri.— While the disorder referred 
to above was transpiring in Missouri, agents of the Mormons 
were seeking a more congenial abiding place. 

Hancock county, in Illinois, was organized in 1829, with 
but 350 people. Prior to 1839, a small village of but 'a few 
houses was commenced where the present town of Nauvoo 
stands. The village was called Commerce and was owned by 
one Hugh White. The site of Commerce was nine miles be- 
low Fort Madison, and about forty-two miles up the Missis- 
sippi in a straight line from Quincy. 

It was to this straggling village that agents of the Mor- 
mons came in the fall of 1839. At the time these agents ap- 
peared in Commerce, Joseph Smith was in jail in Missouri. 
A satisfactory bargain was struck between these agents 
and Mr. White, a Mr. Wells, and possibly others. In the very 
early spring of 1840 the Mormons began to arrive from Mis- 
souri. They began to build homes and it is said within two 
years they had erected over 2,000 dwellings besides a number 
of public buildings, and by the close of 1844 there were over 
16,000 people in the city. Among the public buildings be- 
gun was the Temple. It was built of limestone, which is 
found in abundance at this point. The building was 88 feet 
in width, 128 feet in length with a projecting court of thirty 
feet. It was four stories high including the basement and was 
quite attractive in architecture though not conforming to any 
regularly established order. In the basement was a circular 
baptistry fifteen feet in diameter supported upon the backs 
of twelve oxen. The first floor or story was the audience 
room, the second and third were used for offices and for edu- 
cational purposes. An English traveller who visited it in 



360 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



1842 said the building would cost $300,000. Its actual cost 
was $1,000,000. 

410. In Politics. — When the Mormons were fairly settled in 
their new home, they began to plan how they might secure 
some advantages 
by entering poli- 
tics. They could 
poll probably 
3,000 votes in 
any election. In 
Missouri they 
had voted and 
worked with the 
Democratic party 
but inasmuch as 
they had been 
driven from Mis- 
souri by Demo- 
cratic officers, 
and inasmuch as 
they had been re- 
fused protection 
by a national 

Democratic ad- The Mormon Temple at Nauvoo. 

ministration, when they came to Illinois they let it be known 
that they would favor the Whigs; in fact they voted in 1840 
for Whig members of the legislature, for a Whig congress- 
man, and for Whig electors. It turned out that both parties 
in Illinois were anxious to win these people to their side. 

When the legislature met the 7th of December, 1840, there 
appeared as a memorialist before that body, one Dr. John C. 
Bennett who prayed the legislature for a charter for the city 
of Nauvoo, a charter for a military legion, and a charter 
for the Nauvoo House, and for. other special legislation. This 
agent of the Mormons worked through the member from Han- 




A Student's History of Illinois. 361 

cock county and through Stephen A. Douglas, at that time 
secretary of state. So anxious was the legislature to favor 
these people that all this legislation or at least a large share 
of it was passed by the 16th of December, within nine days 
of the opening of the session. 

411. The Charter. — The charter granted to the city of 
Nauvoo was a very remarkable document. The first section 
fixed the city's boundaries ; the second gave the city the right 
to take in any adjacent country without the consent of the 
people living therein ; the third gave the city the right to 
buy, hold, or sell, real estate outside of the city, for specula- 
tive purposes. Section eleven authorized the city council of 
Nauvoo to enact any ordinance it wished not contrary to the 
constitution of the United States, or to the constitution of the 
State, though it might be contrary to the laws of Illinois. Sec- 
tion seventeen gave the mayor jurisdiction over all cases aris- 
ing under the ordinances of the city of Nauvoo, with the right 
of appeal to the municipal court, which consisted of the alder- 
men and mayor, and thence to the circuit court of Hancock 
county. This section granted to this municipal court the 
right to grant writs of habeas corpus. 

Section twenty-five organized the inhabitants of said city 
into an independent military organization to be called the 
Nauvoo Legion, the commissioned officers of which constituted 
a perpetual court-martial, with full legislative and executive 
authority. The highest officer was to be a lieutenant-general, 
an officer which outranks any state militia officer except the 
governor. 

The act also provided that this Legion should be entitled 
to its share of the State arms and munitions of war. 

Later in the session the legislature passed an act charter- 
ing the Nauvoo House in which the "said Joseph Smith and 
his heirs should have a suite of rooms. . . .in perpetual suc- 
cession." In 1844, Mr. Brown, the historian, writes: 'This 
house is of brick, upon a stone foundation, and presents a 



362 A Student's History of Illinois. 

front on two streets, of 120 feet by 40 feet, three stories high, 
besides the basement. v 

It will be noticed that there are several very liberal grants 
in these charters, but in at least two of them the State created 
a superior to itself. 1. It gave the city council the right to 
make laws antagonistic and superior to the laws passed by the 
legislature. 2. It gave the municipal courts the right to issue 
writs of habeas corpus and thus paralyze the State courts. 

412. City Ordinances. — The next thing was for the city 
council to enact such ordinances as that body saw would suit 
their peculiar needs. After the elections were held it was 
found that Joseph Smith was mayor; and as mayor he could 
assist in making law; and as mayor he could judge the laws 
in the first instance of the suit and on appeal ; and as mayor 
he could also execute the law, and carry his judgments into 
execution. He was lieutenant-general of the Nauvoo Legion. 
Ordinances were now passed as needed. One passed Decem- 
ber 8, 1843, provided : "That it shall be lawful for any officer 
of the city, with or without process, to arrest any person who 
shall come to arrest Joseph Smith with process growing out 
of the Missouri difficulties; and the person so arrested shall 
be tried by the municipal court upon testimony, and if found 
guilty, sentenced to imprisonment in the city prison for life." 
This meant that any sheriff or constable who should attempt 
to serve papers on Joseph Smith for the purpose of taking 
him to Missouri for trial could be imprisoned for life. 

Another ordinance provided that persons within the city 
of Nauvoo could marry with or without license. This was 
passed February 17, 1842, and is probably the time when they 
began to practice polygamy at Nauvoo. A third ordinance 
November 21, 1843, provided that it should be unlawful for 
any person (sheriff or constable) to serve any legal process in 
Nauvoo unless said process first had the endorsement of the 
mayor of the city. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 363 

413. Requisition. — In 1841, late in the fall, Governor 
Carlin received a request from the governor of Missouri for 
the arrest of Joseph Smith and other fugitives from justice. 
Governor Carlin issued an order for his arrest, but Smith was 
not arrested. Later Governor Carlin issued the same writ 
again and Smith was arrested, but Stephen A. Douglas was 
now on the supreme bench and he released Smith on habeas 
corpus proceedings on the ground that the writ had previ- 
ously been returned to the governor's .office unserved. Gov- 
ernor Ford, himself a stanch Democrat, says this action of 
Judge Douglas greatly attached the Mormons to the cause of 
the Democratic party in the gubernatorial election of 1842. 

The Nauvoo Legion had been furnished with about 250 
stand of arms and three pieces of artillery from the State ar- 
senal. Wild rumors were now in circulation as to their mili- 
tary strength, and also with regard to their conduct in rela- 
tion to their Gentile neighbors in Hancock and adjoining 
counties. The Whigs who now saw that the Democrats had 
captured the good will of the Mormons, had turned against 
them in great fury. But in spite of all that their papers and 
public speakers could do, the Democratic candidate, Judge 
Ford, was elected governor in August, 1842, and with him a 
Democratic legislature. Governor Carlin had issued a third 
writ for the arrest of Smith, in order to turn him over to the 
authorities of Missouri, but it had not been executed when 
Governor Ford was inaugurated. When Governor Ford came 
into office, a test case was agreed to and Smith surrendered 
to the sheriff of Sangamon county. Habeas corpus proceed- 
ings were then begun before Judge Pope, a federal judge and 
a Whig, and Smith was released. The Whigs were now in 
high glee, thinking they would have the support of the Mor- 
mons, but they were finally disappointed. 

Joseph Smith and one Eockwell were indicted in Mis- 
souri in June, 1843, charged with an attempt to murder Gov- 
ernor Boggs of that state. Requisition papers reached Gover- 



364 A Student's History of Illinois. 

nor Ford on June 7 of the same month. He immediately is- 
sued his warrant for the arrest of Smith and Rockwell and 
ordered it executed by a constable of Hancock county. Smith 
was found in the north part of the State where he was ar- 
rested and bound over to the Missouri authorities. A band of 
Mormons rescued Smith and took him in triumph to Nauvoo 
where a writ of habeas corpus proceedings before the munici- 
pal court freed him. The officer from Missouri asked the 
governor to call out the militia to arrest Smith but the gov- 
ernor refused. An election for members of congress was to 
be held soon and a scramble of the politicians for the Mor- 
mon vote created the intensest hatred among neighbors and 
friends in Hancock and adjoining counties. 

414. A Temporal Prince. — After the election everything 
quieted down. There was, however, a growing conviction 
among the people of Hancock and adjoining counties that se- 
vere measures would have to be used to rid the community of 
what they considered an increasing menace. The fact was 
that after nearly a half dozen arrests, Joseph Smith, the 
prophet, had been able to defeat the law and go free. This 
emboldened him to commit more offensive crimes in the name 
of the church. The city council now passed the ordinance 
above referred to empowering the municipal authorities to 
arrest and imprison any one who should attempt to arrest 
Joseph Smith. The publication of this ordinance was a great 
revelation to the people and they seemed just awakening to 
the danger to the peace and safety of life and property. 

The prophet announced himself as a candidate for the 
presidency in 1844. 

This brought upon the Mormons the ridicule of all Gen- 
tiles. And the seriousness of the whole matter began to be 
understood, as the people thought, when they learned that 
Smith had announced himself as a temporal prince with a 
nobility to uphold his throne. And to cap the climax, poly- 
gamy was instituted in the social life of the Mormons. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 365 

415. Polygamy. — The proof of this statement may be 
found in the appendix of Brown's History of Illinois, pub- 
lished in 1844, page 491. Mr. Brown says he was personally 
acquainted with Joseph Smith, and has this to say: "It is 
known that Joseph Smith had established a Sisterhood of 
Saints, for the vilest purposes. A Miss Brotherton makes an 
affidavit, that Joseph wished to have her marry one of his 
confederated allies, by the name of (Brigham) Young, al- 
ready a married man, and locked her up with Young, to talk 
over the proposition. This young lady in spite of the holy 
appeal, had strong doubts of the correctness of marrying a 
man who already had a wife ; but Young, to remove her scru- 
ples, introduced the prophet to back his suit, which the lady 
describes as follows." 

Here follows the conversation between the two men in 
their efforts to persuade her to marry Young. 

416. Publicity. — For the purpose of turning the light of 
publicity upon some of the secret workings of the prophet and 
his followers, two brothers, William Law and Wilson Law 
rebelled against polygamy and set up a newspaper in Nauvoo 
called the "Expositor," though Francis and Joseph Higbee 
were probably editors and part owners. 

This rebellion was hastened by the action of Smith in at- 
tempting to force the wife of William Law to become the plural 
wife of himself. This paper put forth but a single issue, but 
it was full of incriminating charges against Smith and Young. 
The city council ordered the press destroyed, which was done. 
The seceders, the Laws, and a few others, fled to Carthage 
where warrants were issued for the arrest of Smith and others 
on the charge of riot. They were arrested but were released 
on habeas corpus proceedings. 

An appeal was made to the governor for the use of the 
militia to secure the arrest of the Nauvoo rioters. The gover- 
nor, Thomas Ford, thought best to go to Carthage in person. 
When he arrived there he found the posse comitatus in arms 
in answer to the call of the constables. 



366 A Student's History of Illinois. 

A band of armed men was at Carthage and a band at War- 
saw, a town some twelve miles west of Carthage on the river. 
The governor thought best to put these men under military 
orders. There were all kinds of stories as to the crimes and 
depredations of the Mormons. 

417. Charges. — The Mormons were said to claim the whole 
county and to have taken without permission large quantities 
of stock, provisions, etc., from their Gentile neighbors. It was 
also charged that there was a counterfeiting plant in Nauvoo 
where spurious coins were turned out in large quantities. It 
was further said that all the gamblers, murderers, swindlers, 
and vicious characters had congregated in Nauvoo. The pub- 
lic mind was pitched upon a high tension, and it looked as if 
somebody must be offered up as a sort of sacrifice to appease 
this angry spirit. 

The governor was convinced that the leaders ought to be 
arrested and punished for breaking up the press of the "Ex- 
positor." He made a public address to the assembled militia 
in which he made them promise him they would not commit 
any unlawful act. He then conveyed this promise to the Mor- 
mon leaders and also ordered their arrest by a constable ac- 
companied by a guard of ten men. The city of Nauvoo, too, 
was excited, the Legion was called out, and the city looked 
like a military camp. Smith and other leaders promised they 
would accompany the constable to Carthage, the county seat. 
But they did not keep their promise and the constable and sol- 
diers returned to Carthage. The governor was advised to call 
for more troops, but he hesitated. He feared that if he should 
march over to Nauvoo that the militia could not be restrained 
and he desired to prevent bloodshed. The governor asked the 
Independent Legion to give up the State arms, which they 
did. On the 24th of June, Smith, and all the accused came 
to Carthage and surrendered. After a preliminary hearing 
all were released except Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith, his 
brother, who were lodged in the jail. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



367 



418. Murder of the Smiths. — The governor now sent Cap- 
tain Singleton with a small company to guard Nauvoo. A 
few militiamen were stationed around the jail and in the city; 




The Hancock County Jail. 



all other militiamen were discharged and ordered home. Af- 
ter a few days of indecision by the governor which proved un- 
fortunate, on June 27, he visited Nauvoo and on that day a 
few stragglers from the disbanded militia gathered at Car- 
thage where the Grays of that city were still in service. These 
stragglers marched to the jail about 6 o'clock p. m. and easily 
overcoming the guards, broke into the building. Joseph and 
his brother Hyrum and two fellow Mormons who were visiting 
the prophet and patriarch were all in a large, scantily fur- 
nished room. When they heard the soldiers coming they 
barred the door. The soldiers fired through the door, killed 



368 A Student's History of Illinois. 

Hyrum Smith and wounded one of the two visitors. The 
door was burst open and the soldiers poured into the room. 
Smith had two six barrelled pistols. One he emptied, wound- 
ing four men, but he could no longer stand against so many 
and he attempted to jump from a window. He fell heavily 
to the ground and before he could recover from his dazed con- 
dition he was shot to death by some men standing near. These 
men were said to be Missourians. 

419. Return of Governor Ford. — When Governor Ford 
reached Nauvoo on the 27th, he addressed the people and as- 
sured them that all would go well, and returned to Carthage 
in the afternoon. When within three miles of the county 
seat, he was met by a courier who told him of the death of the 
two Smiths. He hastened to the town where he found great 
confusion. People were hastily fleeing from their homes ex- 
pecting that before morning thousands of infuriated Mormons 
would attack the town. 

At midnight the following note was sent to Nauvoo to ad- 
vise moderation : 

Twelve O'clock at Night, June 27, 
Carthage, Hamilton's Tavern. 
To Mrs. Emma Smith, and Major-General Durham, etc. 

The governor has just arrived, and says all things shall be in- 
quired into, and all right measures taken. I say to all the citizens 
of Nauvoo: My brethren, be still and know that God reigns — don't 
rush out of the city — don't rush to Carthage — stay at home, and 
be prepared for an attack from Missouri mobbers. The governor 
will render every assistance possible. He has sent out orders for 
troops. Joseph and Hyrum are dead — but not by the Carthage peo- 
ple. The guards were there, as I believe. We will prepare to re- 
move the bodies as soon as possible. The people of this county are 
greatly excited, and fear that the Mormons will come out and take 
vengeance. I have pledged my word that the Mormons will stay at 
home, (as soon as they can be informed.) and no violence will be 
done on their part. Say to my brethren in Nauvoo, in the name 
of the Lord, be still — be patient — only let such friends as choose, 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



369 



come here to see the bodies. Mr. Taylor's wounds are dressed and 
not serious — I am sound. 

Defend yourselves until protection can be furnished. 

William Richards, 
John Taylor, 
Samuel H. Smith. 
June 27, 1844. 

Thomas Ford, 
Governor, and Commander-in-Chief. 

420. More Disorder. — The Mormons came for their dead 
which they buried with the honors of their stations. For a 
short time quiet prevailed, but again the midnight raids, the 
burning of homes, the loss of property were the order of the 
day. Under the pretext of a great wolf -hunt several hundred 
men gathered in Hancock county with the purpose of forcibly 
expelling the Mormons. The governor sent troops and order 
was restored. In 1845-6 more disorders were indulged in, 
and troops were again sent. The Mormons agreed to remove 
from the State. Not all went and the people were deter- 
mined on their extermination. Several conflicts occurred in 







Mormon Temple at Salt Lake City, 



370 A Student's History of Illinois. 

which lives were lost before they finally quitted the State. 
They went across Iowa to Council Bluffs, and eventually to 
Salt Lake. 

The men guilty of the murder of the two Smiths could 
not be convicted on account of lack of testimony. The death 
of Joseph Smith, it was thought, would be a very great ob- 
stacle to the further growth and progress of the Mormon 
church, but the unjustifiable taking off of the Mormon lead- 
ers seemed to cement together those remaining, and as the 
story of this peculiar religion spread over the world, new re- 
cruits came nocking in from every land. 

421. Opinion of Smith. — Various opinions have been held 
as to Smith's ability, his honesty of purpose, and the secrets 
of his leadership. He has been denounced as a vile impostor, 
while others regarded him as a really great man. Mr. Brown, 
the historian, was personally acquainted with Joseph Smith 
and he said in 1844: "He was, in early life, uneducated. 
Since he has attracted the gaze and wonder of the world, he 
has improved considerably in his mind and manners. In his 
person he is still coarse. His manners are not refined ; he is 
far from being clownish. He is upon the whole an ordinary 
man/' 

422. The Departure. — Following the death of the two 
Smiths, great uncertainty prevailed in Nauvoo. The elders 
were scattered over the country, and it was many months be- 
fore they could all assemble at Nauvoo. Some of the Mor- 
mons thought the leadership would fall to the son of Joseph 
Smith, but the young man did not appear to be ambitious, and 
eventually the elders came into control, and although prepara- 
tions were in progress for their departure, more or less friction 
existed between them and the Gentiles for the next two years. 

All public buildings were used as workshops and it is said 
12,000 wagons were made in the winter of 1845-6. A sort 
of peace was secured by a promise from the Mormons that they 
would leave the State. Their homes were sold for trifling 



A Student's History of Illinois. 371 

amounts, and in the spring and summer of 1846, amid great 
distress, the main body of the Mormons crossed the Missis- 
sippi and after two years of sojourning reached Salt Lake, 
where they built one of the most beautiful cities west of the 
Mississippi river. Here polygamy was carried to its logical 
end, and nourished till suppressed by federal law. The tem- 
ple which they built in Salt Lake City is one of the finest 
buildings in the west. 

423. The Icarians. — About the time the Mormons left 
Nauvoo, a body of French immigrants arrived at New Or- 
leans — some from Mexico and others from France. Hearing 
of the cheapness of homes in Nauvoo they came to that place. 
They believed in living in common. They rebuilt the temple 
which had been burned, but later it was wrecked in a great 
storm and they abandoned it and built a "Community House" 
out of a part of the material. These people lived in Nauvoo 
for a few years, when by reason of dissensions they sold out 
and departed. In the most prosperous period of this "com- 
munity" they carried on all kinds of manufacturing as well 
as agriculture. 




Ruins of an Old Mill Operated by the Icarians. 



372 A Student's History of Illinois. 



CHAPTER XXXVIII. 

FLATHEADS AND REGULATORS. 

424. Transition Period. — The period from 1830 to 1850 
was one of great disturbance and unrest in Illinois. Within 
these two decades history records the Black Hawk war, the 
assassination of Lovejoy, internal improvement, the Mormon 
difficulties, the Flathead and Regulator war, the Mexican 
war, besides many minor disturbances. 

The war between the Flatheads and the Regulators was 
confined to the southeast part of the State, and chiefly to the 
counties of Hardin, Pope, and Massac, though other counties 
shared in the confusion and crimes resulting therefrom. This 
part of the State was settled chiefly by immigrants from Ten- 
nessee, the Carolinas, Virginia, and Kentucky. As early as 
1800, and possibly much earlier, there was a ferry at the 
present little city of Golconda, and as the rough settlers from 
the above named states came to Illinois, they entered through 
the counties above mentioned. This region is located in the 
eastern end of the Ozarks and does not differ greatly from the 
Cumberland regions. It was rich in timber of all kinds 
which furnished mast for the hogs; cattle could live through 
the year on the grass and cane; the purest of water bubbled 
from scores of springs; and take it altogether, it was an ideal 
place for rugged pioneers. The people were not all bad, but 
many unprincipled men eventually settled in that locality. 

425. Counterfeiting". — As early as 1831, a man named 
Sturdevant located in the upper part of Pope county, built a 
fort, and began to manufacture counterfeit money. There 
was with him a number of people and for awhile they appeared 



A Student's History of Illinois. 373 

to be law-abiding citizens. But soon it was discovered they 
were making spurious money. Good people became exasper- 
ated and formed an organization for the expulsion of the 
counterfeiters, but the plan was revealed to Sturdevant and he 
was ready for the Regulators when they arrived at his fort. 
In the battle which followed it is said that three counterfeit- 
ers were killed. The fight was kept up till night and Sturde- 
vant and his band escaped. 

426. Horse-Stealing. — It was quite common to find mov- 
ers driving through the country with stolen horses. These 
had been traded for or bought from what appeared to be the 
citizens of that region, but had in reality been stolen by the 
Flatheads and sold to these immigrants. When the law-abid- 
ing citizens would take any steps to suppress horse-stealing 
and counterfeiting their houses were burned, and in a very 
few instances, assassinations resorted to. 

427. Kidnapping. — Free negroes were found in many of 
the southeastern counties from 1830 to 1848. They had ob- 
tained their fredom in various ways — some bought their free- 
dom, some were manumitted by former masters, and others 
were born free. It came to be considered quite a sharp trick 
to kidnap these free negroes and take them into the southern 
states and there sell them into perpetual bondage. The rec- 
ords of some of the Ohio river counties are yet burdened with 
some of the indictments and trials of those who were con- 
cerned in this shameful business. 

428. The Regulators. — In the midst of these crimes and 
the consequent insecurity of life and property, a body of hon- 
est citizens organized themselves into committees of law and 
order. Some of the good men who supported the law-and- 
order committees were : Dr. William Sim, Judge Wesley Sloan, 
Sheriff William Finley, James McCoy, Thomas Campbell, 
John Eaum, father of general Raum, and others. 



374 



A Student's History of Illinois. 




It was not at first the 
purpose of these men to 
take the execution of the 
law into their own hands, 
but merely to assist the 
regularly constituted au- 
thorities in its enforce- 
ment. 

But as time moved 
on, the Regulators be- 
c a m e self - appointed 
guardians of the law, and 
many bloody conflicts oc- 
curred between what 
eventually came to be 
called the Flatheads and 
Regulators. 

Massac county was 
organized in the year of 
1843, and it is said that 
this county was created 
largely by the influence 
of some of the men connected with the Flatheads. They 
hoped to control all the offices and thus have a place of safety 
where they might flee in times of danger. 

429. The Courts. — To us of this decade, it is quite a mys- 
tery why the courts did not see that the law was executed. 
Law cannot be executed against public sentiment, and so it 
turned out that the courts were paralyzed in this section dur- 
ing these troubles. It has been said by one who has made a 
careful study of those eventful days that: "The conflict be- 
tween the two factions had already reached the stage where 
all good men were not Regulators and all bad men were not 
Flatheads/' 



Peter White, Equality, 111. In 1844 this man was 
( J 0) ten years old. He and three smaller chil- 
dren were kidnapped in Equality and taken to 
Arkansas, where they were sold for $800.00. 
Thev were rescued by Walter White, of 
Equality, a nephew of Gen. Leonard White. 
Uncle Peter, as he is called, still lives in 
Equality. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 375 

The high plane upon which the work of the Regulators 
started was not maintained and they soon became persecutors 
instead of prosecutors. Indeed it so happened that the Flat- 
heads joined hands with the officers of the law for the pun- 
ishment of some very grave offenses committed by the Regu- 
lators. 

The disorders continued till surrounding counties became 
alarmed, and appeals were sent to the legislature and to the 
governor to take such action as would restore order and secure 
life and property. A special court was constituted by act of 
the legislature ; it held but a single session, but no conviction 
resulted thereat. 

430. The End. — The governor sent special agents into the 
disturbed section and after hearing from them, and after dis- 
covering the public sentiment in various parts of the State, 
issued his proclamation for a special session of the legislature 
for October 22, 1849. An act was passed extending the juris- 
diction of the circuit court. This, together with the knowl- 
edge that the governor and the legislature were determined 
to stamp out the disorders, had a salutary effect upon the 
people in the counties along the Ohio, and quiet was soon 
restored. 

This war between the Flatheads and the Regulators be- 
came so noted that accounts of the disturbances were regularly 
published in the New Orleans Picayune, Louisville Journal, 
the New York Saturday Evening Post, the Courier of Phila- 
delphia, and the St. Louis Republican. 

431. Forts. — There are yet to be seen in these counties 
and adjacent counties remains of old forts usually constructed 
of rock, and enclosing considerable areas of ground. The peo- 
ple living here do not seem to have any explanation of these 
forts, but it is conjectured that they may have been built by 
the two factions in the early days of this unfortunate strife. 
However, this is only conjecture. 



376 



A Student's History of Illinois. 




GOVERNOR AUGUSTUS C. FRENCH. 

J846— 1853. 



CHAPTER XXXIX. 



GOVERNOR AUGUSTUS C. FRENCH 
CONSTITUTION. 



-THE SECOND 



432. Campaign of '46. — As early as February, 1846, the 
Democratic convention nominated Augustus C. French as 
the candidate of that party for governor. J. B. Wells was 
nominated for lieutenant governor. The Whigs were hope- 
lessly in the minority and could not persuade themselves to 
enter the race till late in the month of June, when a conven- 
tion, assembled in Peoria, nominated Thomas M. Kilpatrick 
for governor and Gen. Nathaniel G. Wilcox for the second 



A Student's History of Illinois. 377 

place. The election was the first Tuesday in August and the 
new governor took his seat .early in December. The canvass 
was in progress during the eventful days of the Mormon trou- 
ble and in the early days of the Mexican war. 

There was not much of an issue in the canvass. The Dem- 
ocrats were in favor of the Mexican war, while the Whigs 
were opposed to it. This made the Whigs unpopular. The 
Whigs charged French with being entangled in the internal 
improvement schemes which to some people was a sure sign 
of corruption or of weakness. French was elected by a large 
majority. 

433. Unfinished Problems. — Governor French entered 
upon the duties of his office in December, 1846. He inherited 
from the previous administrations some unfinished problems 
in statecraft. These were the Mormon problem, the internal 
improvement problem, the new constitution problem, and the 
Mexican war problem. Some of these had been in process of 
solution for several years while others were comparatively new 

434. The Mormons. — The Mormon question was by no 
means wholly settled at the outgoing of Governor Ford. From 
the death of Smith the 27th of June, 1844, to December, 1846, 
when Governor Ford retired, there was more or less disorder 
and violence in the region of Hancock county. 

The Mormons in the fall and winter of 1845-6 were mak- 
ing preparations to remove from Nauvoo. The anti-Mormon 
sentiment was very strong in all the region of Nauvoo, and 
efforts were made to have their leaders arrested on the charge 
of counterfeiting. But Governor Ford refused on the ground 
that a sort of armistice had been entered into. Word was 
noised abroad that United States troops were coming in the 
spring of '46 and the exodus was begun and continued through 
that summer. Their property was purchased by Gentiles and 
by the time French came in as governor the Mormons had in 
the main left Nauvoo, but there was still a very unsettled state 
of the public mind and for many years the effects of the 



378 A Student's History of Illinois. 

"Mormon wars" were felt in the northwestern part of the 
State. 

435. Internal Improvement. — The internal improvement 
problem was in process of solution. The incomes of the State 




Major Edward A. Giller, White Hall, Greene 
County. Major Giller belonged to Colonel Har- 
din's Regiment and did valiant service in the 
Mexican War. He is still hale and hearty at 
the age of eighty-five. 

were not sufficient to pay the current expenses though the defi- 
cits were decreasing from year to year. Governor French 
recommended to the legislature that all the debts of the State, 
including bonds, scrip, and interest, be funded and that the 
new bonds be registered. In this way the people would know 
just exactly how much they owed and who held the bonds, 
and counterfeiting, which had come to be a very common 
thing, would be prevented. As a means of increasing taxes 
the State petitioned congress to abrogate the clause in the 
enabling act by which the State promised to exempt from 



A Student's History of Illinois. 379 

taxation for five years after sale, all government land. Con- 
gress having complied with the request, the legislature pro- 
vided for the taxation of all lands. This greatly aided in 
meeting the current expenses, especially as considerable land 
was bought in Illinois following the Mexican war. 

436. Mexican War. — The Mexican war may be said to 
have begun by General Taylor's occupying the disputed terri- 
tory between the Rio Grande and the Neuces rivers. This was 
clone in March, 1846. When some American troops were cut 
to pieces and captured on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, 
the country was inflamed and the call for volunteers was 
promptly answered. 

On May 13, congress passed an act declaring that Mexico, 
by the shedding of American blood upon American soil, had 
declared war against the United States. The President was 
authorized to accept 50,000 volunteers, and congress appro- 
priated $10,000,000 to carry on the war. In distributing the 
50,000 volunteers among the states, Illinois was to furnish 
three regiments. They were to serve twelve months. An ad- 
ditional regiment was organized by Col. E. D. Baker, con- 
gressman from the Springfield district. In 1847 two more 
regiments were organized. Besides these there were some 
independent companies. 

437. Buena Vista. — Col. John J. Hardin, of Jacksonville, 
was in command of the 1st regiment; Col. William H. Bis- 
sell, afterwards governor of the State, of the 2d ; Col. Ferris 
Foreman, of the 3d ; Col. E. D. Baker, afterwards killed at 
Ball's Bluff, of the 4th regiment ; Col. Edward W. B. Newby, 
of the 5th; Col. James Collins, of the 6th regiment. The 
first and second regiments engaged with General Taylor in 
the battle of Buena Vista. In this battle 4,500 Americans held 
their ground against 20,000 Mexicans. Colonel Hardin was 
killed at the close of the day. He was esteemed very highly 
and his death was a severe loss to the State. His body was 
brought home and buried in Jacksonville. Colonel Hardin's 



280 A Student's History of Illinois. 

regiment lost twenty-nine killed and sixteen wounded; Col- 
onel Bissell's regiment lost sixty-two killed and sixty-nine 
wounded. The third and fourth regiments marched with 
Scott to the City of Mexico. The fifth marched to Fort Leav- 
enworth and thence to Santa Fe. The sixth was divided at 
New Orleans, a part going to Vera Cruz, and a part to Florida. 
All the Illinois troops acquitted themselves with great 
credit. They received the highest praise from the command- 
ing officers, and so high did they stand in the State that to 
have been an Illinois soldier in the Mexican war was a sure 
passport to political position in the State for many years. 
Quite a number of the officers came to be prominent in the 
State and nation in later years. 

438. Constitution of 1848.— The constitution of 1818, 
made when our statesmen were gathered from among the 
farmers, doctors, lawyers, traders, and woodsmen, had never 
been remodeled. It was compiled largely from the funda- 
mental laws from other states, the framers not knowing from 
experience nor from history what was the vital and essential 
things which ought to be incorporated in a state constitution. 
The struggle of 1824 was not made on the ground that the 
constitution needed revision, although the slavery interests 
made a pretense of such need. The contest was a square fight 
for and against making Illinois a slave state, on the same 
footing, and in the same class as the Carolinas or Tennessee. 
Amendments had been talked of but none ever added. 

439. Call for a Convention Defeated.— After the defeat 
of the convention in 1824 nothing was done toward revising or 
amending till 1840-1. In the legislature of that year a reso- 
lution was adopted calling on the voters to express them- 
selves, relative to a convention at the coming State election 
in August. The Democrats favored such a convention, but 
when a bill passed the legislature abolishing the circuit court 
judges and creating five new judgeships on the supreme bench, 



A Student's History of Illinois. 381 

all of which places were filled by Democrats, the need of a 
convention was not so apparent. 

The Democrats now controlled the legislature, the execu- 
tive, and the courts. When the election was held in August 
the Democrats generally voted against the proposition to hold 
a convention while the Whigs voted for it, but the proposition 
failed to carry. In 1845 the legislature passed another act 
calling on the people to vote on the question of a convention 
at the general election in August, 1846. The proposition was 
strongly urged upon the people by the Democratic press and 
it was not very generally opposed, so at the election in Aug- 
ust, 1846, the question carried. 

440. Desirable Changes. — The next step was to pass an 
act to provide for the convention. This act determined the 
number of delegates which should sit in the constitutional 
convention, the date of the election, which was fixed for the 
third Monday in April, 1847, and the date of the meeting of 
the delegates in the convention, the first Monday in June, 
1847. There was no special argument against a convention 
while several were brought forward in its favor. Some desir- 
able changes were as follows : 

1. To abolish life tenure or long tenure of office. 

2. To prohibit the legislature from involving the State in the 
banking business. 

3. To limit the power of the State to borrow money. 

4. To give the governor the veto power. 

5. To increase the length of residence for the elective franchise. 

6. To take the power of electing State officers from the legislature 
and give it to the people. 

7. To fix minimum ages for members of the legislatures, and for 
State officers. 

8. To abolish eligibility to several offices at the same time. 

There were a number of other changes which were con- 
sidered during the canvass preceding the election in April. 
When the members came together June 7, 1847, it was found 
that the Whigs and Democrats were about evenly divided. 
The convention organized by electing Newton Cloud presi- 



382 A Student's History of Illinois. 

dent, and Henry W. Moore secretary. There were 162 dele- 
gates in this body. Among these men prominent on the Dem- 
ocratic side were Zadoc Casey, John Dement, John M. Pal- 
mer, Anthony Thornton, Walter B. Scates, Willis Allen, L. B. 
Knowlton, and Thompson Campbell. The leading Whigs 
were Archibald Williams, James W. Singleton, Henry E. 
Dummer, Jesse 0. Norton, Stephen A. Hurlbut, David Davis, 
Cyrus Edwards, Samuel D. Lockwood, Stephen T. Logan, and 
Abner C. Harding. The session lasted from June 7 to Aug- 
ust 31, 1847. 

441. Changes Made. — The constitution made in the sum- 
mer of 1817, differed from the one of 1818 in several points. 
There was a preamble in the constitution of 1848 similar to 
the one in the constitution of the United States. Article II. 
]3ut stress upon the distinct separation of the three depart- 
ments of government. 

In the legislative department the following features may 
be noted : No member of the general assembly shall be elected 
to any other office during his term as a legislator. The sen- 
ate shall consist of twenty-five members and the house of 
seventy-five members till the State shall contain a million 
people. After that an addition of five in each house shall be 
made for every increase of half million till there shall be fifty 
senators and 100 representatives, when the number shall re- 
main stationary. Members of the general assembly were to 
receive $2 per day for the first forty-two days and $1 per day 
for each additional day together with mileage each way at 
ten cents per mile. The general assembly could not grant 
divorces, and must prohibit the sale of lottery tickets in the 
State. The State could not borrow more than $60,000 to 
carry on the government, except in case of war, rebellion, or 
invasion. The credit of the State could not be used to ad- 
vance the interests of any individual, association, or corpo- 
ration. 

In the executive department these changes may be found : 



A Student's History of Illinois. 383 

The governor must be a citizen of the United States and 
thirty-five years of age, and shall be a citizen of the United 
States fourteen years and have resided in the State ten years. 
The governor must reside at the seat of government. He shall 
have the veto power. His salary was $1,500 — no more. The 
secretary of state, auditor, and treasurer shall be elected at 
the same time the governor and lieutenant governor are cho- 
sen. The governor shall issue all commissions. 

The judiciary department shall consist of a supreme court, 
circuit courts, county courts, and justice courts. The supreme 
court shall consist of three judges elected from three judicial 
circuits. The term of office was nine years and the one whose 
commission bears the earliest date is to be chief justice. Sal- 
ary $1,200 — no more. Circuit judges, $1,000 — no more. 
The legislature may provide for election of district prosecut- 
ing attorneys or county prosecuting attorneys. All judges are 
to be elected by the qualified voters. 

Some miscellaneous provisions were new. The legislature 
shall pass a general law for township organization. The legis- 
lature may pass a law raising revenue by a capitation tax of 
not less than 50c nor over $1 on all electors between 21 and 60 
years of age. No State bank shall hereafter be created. All 
stockholders of banking associations issuing bank notes, are 
liable for all debts of the company. Article XIII. , is a dec- 
laration of rights; there are twenty-six distinct personal 
rights enumerated. A tax of two mills on each dollar of as- 
sessed valuation was authorized to constitute a fund for the 
liquidation of the State's indebtedness. 

442. Ratification. — It was further provided that if this 
constitution shall be ratified by the people, the governor, secre- 
tary of state, etc., shall be elected on Tuesday after the first 
Monday in November, 1848. The governor shall take his of- 
fice the second Monday in January following the election and 
serve four years. 



384 A Student's History of Illinois. 

The constitution was completed on August 31, 1847. On 
March 6, 1848, it was submitted to the people for ratification. 
The vote on the constitution stood nearly 60,000 for, and 
nearly 16,000 against. It was declared in force April 1, 1848. 
By the terms of the document itself an election should be held 
on Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 1848, for 
governor and other executive officers as well as for members 
of the legislature. In compliance therewith an election was 
held on Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 1848, 
at which election Governor French was re-elected governor 
for four years from January 1, 1849. 

443. Township Organization. — The new constitution au- 
thorized the legislature to provide for township organization. 
In pursuance thereof a law was passed in 1849 which allowed 
counties, when authorized by a vote of the people, to organize 
under this new system. This new system of county organiza- 
tion is distinctly a New England product, and was therefore 
championed by the northern counties which had been largely 
settled by immigrants from New England and the middle 
states. The legislature on February 12, 1849, passed a gen- 
eral law governing all counties under township organization. 
This first law was somewhat imperfect, and has therefore 
been subject to amendments up till the present time. The 
general provisions may be briefly stated as follows : 

The three commissioners under the county system have 
been superseded by a board of supervisors — usually one from 
each township — more properly town. 

Each town elects its own assessor, collector, supervisor, 
highway commissioners, justices, constables, poundmaster, and 
clerk. These officers perform such services for the town as 
similar officers do for the county under county organization. 
The board of supervisors has charge of the public property of 
the county, fixes salaries, and audits the books and reports of 
all county officers. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 385 

The legal voters of each town elect their town officers in 
April of each year, and while assembled to perform this duty 
they hold what is known as the "town meeting." In this 
town meeting they constitute a pure democracy and may enact 
such legislation as is within the scope of their authority as 
determined by the statutes. 

444. Homestead Law. — An important law which was en- 
acted in Governor French's term was known as the "Home- 
stead Exemption Law." The principle involved in this act 
is very old in English law. It was declared in Magna Charta, 
section 20, that in case of amercement, the punishment shall 
not extend to the deprivation of the debtor of his necessary 
means of making a living. That is, the drayman by occupa- 
tion must not be deprived of his horse and dray, for then he 
and his family would become a public charge. The demands 
of society at large are paramount to those of the individual. 
Up to 1851 the only exemption was on personal property, and 
then only to the extent of $60. The debtor who might be per- 
mitted by this law to hold a yoke of oxen against a creditor 
might have no land to till and his oxen might be a burden to 
him. But the exemption law of 1851 provides that a house- 
holder may hold land to the value of $1,000 against the cred- 
itor, besides $400 worth of personal property. Such laws are 
still on our statute books and are seen to be very much to the 
advantage of the poor man who has unfortunately become 
involved and cannot pay his debts. 

445. State Policy. — Among all the matters of general in- 
terest in Governor French's administration nothing was more 
unfortunate than what came to be called the "State Policy." 
The reader will recall that under the constitution of 1818 the 
credit of the State might be used to foster great public enter- 
prises such as banks, railroads, and canals. The constitution 
of 1848, Article X., section 3, says: "No State bank shall 
hereafter be created, nor shall the State own or be liable for 
any stock in any corporation or joint stock association for 



386 A Student's History of Illinois. 

banking purposes to be hereafter created." And section 6 
says: "The general assembly shall encourage internal im- 
provements by passing liberal general laws of incorporation 
for that purpose." It was not possible therefore for the State 
to engage in any banking business or improvement schemes, 
but they might grant charters or rather pass laws which would 
greatly favor individual effort along these lines. It may also 
be recalled that when the State was in the banking business 
that an effort was made to build up Alton as a rival of St. 
Louis, but the city did not make very substantial progress, 
while St. Louis was growing rapidly. This State policy was 
nothing more nor less than a determination on the part of a 
majority of the general assembly to withhold charters for rail- 
roads running east and west across the State unless these cross 
roads would terminate at such points on the Illinois side of 
the Mississippi, and on the west side of the eastern boundary 
of the State, as might be designated by the legislature. These 
patriotic statesmen insisted that it was the height of folly to 
say that as great cities could not be built up within the State 
as beyond its limits. In other words they said let the western 
termini of all cross roads be Alton, and then Alton will be- 
come a great city. But St. Louis was already a great market 
for the produce of all southern Illinois, as well as a great 
wholesale and 'distributing point. Capitalists were anxious 
to connect Louisville, Cincinnati, and other cities to the east 
of us with St. Louis by railroads, but this could not be done 
unless charters could be had from the State legislature of 
Illinois. Such permission was refused in the summer of 1849. 
Then the people in the belt of counties between Terre 
Haute and St. Louis held a great convention at Salem in 
Marion county in which a plan of campaign was outlined to 
secure so important a public enterprise as a cross railroad. 
There were 1,000 delegates, and 3,000 other men in attend- 
ance. It was a formidable gathering. But this meeting only 
put the State policy people to work, and as a result a great 



A Student's History of Illinois. 387 

meeting was held in Hillsboro in Montgomery county which 
was attended by 10,000 people. At this meeting the action of 
the legislature was endorsed and the virtue of the State policy 
greatly praised. 

Missouri now took a hand in the fight by imposing a tax 
of $4.50 on every thousand dollars worth of produce raised 
beyond the limits of the State when sold on the markets of 
St. Louis. This tax would raise about $150,000 annually on 
the produce from Illinois. The law was finally declared in- 
operative by the Missouri courts. 

At a special session of the legislature in the fall of 1849 
strong resolutions passed the general assembly sustaining the 
State policy. The outside world now attacked Illinois and 
the matter became one of general interest in the east. 

The legislature of 1852 was more kindly disposed toward 
the best interests of the south end of the State, and a begin- 
ning was made by chartering the Ohio and Mississippi Rail- 
road Company. This concession was no doubt the result of 
efforts of Douglas and other prominent Illinois people in con- 
gress in consideration of the grant of land just made by con- 
gress for the construction of the Illinois Central Eailroad. 
Public sentiment was changing and in 1854, at a special ses- 
sion of the legislature, a general law incorporating railroad 
companies in conformity with the sixth section of Article X., 
was passed without opposition. 



388 A Student's History of Illinois. 



CHAPTER XL. 

THE ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD. 

446. Earliest Railroads. — Railroads made their advent 
into England in the year 1822. George Stephenson was the 
engineer of the first road. In 1825 a wooden rail track was 
first used in America for the removal of excavated earth on 
the Delaware-Chesapeake canal. In 1826 Stephen A"an Rens- 
salear, of New York, procured a charter for a railroad from 
Albany to Schenectady. This was known as the Mohawk and 
Hudson River Railroad. It began operations in 1831. In 
1827 the Mauch-Chunk Railroad was put in operation. The 
first built expressly for locomotives was in South Carolina — 
from Charleston to Columbia. It was chartered in 1827 and 
was ready for use in 1829. The Tom Thumb, the first engine 
built in America, was constructed for a road from Baltimore 
to Ellicott Mills. It was built by Peter Cooper, of New York 
City. 

447. First Illinois Railroad.— On January 28, 1831, the 
general assembly of Illinois chartered a canal or railroad in 
St. Clair county. This is the first legislation on railroads in 
this State. On February 15, 1831, a bill providing for the 
substitution of a railroad for the canal from Chicago to the 
Illinois river was passed by the legislature. From this time 
forward the legislature was very liberal in granting charters 
for railroads. But nothing was actually done until in 1837. 
In that year a railroad was actually put in running order in 
Illinois. 

Governor Reynolds says in his history, "My Own Times," 
that he was defeated for congress in 1836 and not having any- 
thing else to do, conceived the idea of building a railroad from 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



389 



the bluffs in St. Clair county to a point on the river opposite 
St. Louis, for the purpose of transporting coal to the market. 
The road was about six miles long. The engineer named a cer- 
tain sum of money as the cost, but Reynolds says it cost twice 
as much. The road was completed in one season. The motive 
power was horses. The road was not chartered till 1841. 




The Pioneer, the first railroad engine in Chicago. 



448. Origin of the Illinois Central Railroad. — Just who 
ought to have credit for originating the idea of a railroad 
from the junction of the Ohio with the Mississippi to the head 
of navigation of the Illinois river, and perhaps with Chicago 
and Galena, is not easy to determine. It is stated that Sena- 
tor Alexander M. Jenkins, of Jackson county, proposed a sur- 
vey of a route for a central railroad from Cairo to Peru, in 
the State senate in 1832. 

On October 16, 1835, Sidney Breese, afterwards a noted 
jurist of this State, addressed to Mr. John Y. Sawyer, a prom- 
inent gentleman of Edwardsville, a letter in which he sug- 
gests the building of a road from Cairo to the north end of 



390 A Student's History of Illinois. 

the State. This letter dealt with the location, cost, and bene- 
fits of such a road. Judge Breese afterwards said that the 
matter was suggested to him by a friend of Bond county. 

449. The First Charter.— On January 18, 1836, a charter 
was granted by the legislature incorporating the "Illinois Cen- 
tral Railroad Company/' This charter provided for fifty- 
eight incorporators one of whom was Judge Breese. Nothing 
of any consequence was done by this company. On the 27th 
of February, 1837, the Internal Improvement Bill was passed 
and one of the important features was a railroad from Cairo 
to the northern part of the State. Three million five hundred 
thousand dollars was appropriated for its construction. As a 
result of this move on the part of the State, work was begun 
on the Central road, as it was called. Work was also begun on 
other roads. The road from Jacksonville to Meredosia was 
practically completed and an engine placed on it, November 8, 
1838. It was finished to Jacksonville from Meredosia in Jan- 
uary, 1840, and to Springfield in 1842, February 15. By 
1843 the State practically abandoned the attempt to build the 
railroads, though it had done considerable work on various 
lines within the State. 

The Great Western Railway Company was chartered 
March 6, 1843. This company was identical with the Cairo 
City and Canal Company, previously chartered. This company 
spent large sums of money in grading on the line from Cairo 
north to the southern terminus of the Illinois and Michigan 
canal. Congress had made grants of land so liberally to the 
State that it was believed it would do so for this Central 
Railroad. 

450. Government Grants Land. — Judge Breese and 
Stephen A. Douglas were in the United States Senate in 1847; 
and Douglas introduced a bill for a grant of land to Illinois 
which was endorsed by Breese and passed the senate, but 
failed in the house. The old Western Company now saw a 
chance to get the grant of land and the Illinois legislature 



A Student's History of Illinois. 391 

was induced to give the contemplated grant to the Western 
Company, but the gift was afterwards cancelled at the request 
of Senator Douglas. 

On September 20, 1850, congress gave to the States of Illi- 
nois, Mississippi, and Alabama, a grant of land with which 
to build a road from the Gulf to the Lakes. 

The law granted the right of way through the public lands 
between Cairo and the canal, and between the north end of 
this line and Chicago and Galena. The right of way should 
be 200 feet wide. Congress granted to the State every unen- 
tered, even-numbered section for a space of six miles on each 
side of the right of way; and when the even-numbered sec- 
tion had been entered or preempted then the State might choose 
even-numbered sections in equal amounts anywhere on either 
side of the right of way to the distance of fifteen miles. The 
road was to be begun at opposite ends at the same time, and 
be completed within ten years. The total grant contained 
2,595,000 acres. 

The government by the same act which made this munifi- 
cent gift to the State, raised the price of land along this right 
of way in the odd-numbered sections to $2.50 per acre. In a 
short time the land was taken off the market for two years 
and when placed upon the market again it brought on an av- 
erage $5 an acre. 

The gift was made to the State, and the legislature might 
dispose of it anyway it chose, provided it be used to construct 
the railroad. The government reserved the right to use the 
road as a public highway for the transmission of armies, mu- 
nitions, and other government property, free of charge for- 
ever. 

Probably the government intended that this reservation 
should include the use of cars and engines, but the courts de- 
cided that the provision applied only to the roadbed and not 
to the rolling stock. 



392 A Student's History of Illinois. 

Notwithstanding the recent experience in railroad build- 
ing by the State, there were those who thought the State 
ought to build the road. Then again there were all sorts of 
suggestions as to the towns through which the road should 
pass, and as to the point from which the branches should di- 
verge. 

When the legislature met in January, 1851, there were all 
kinds of propositions presented for the construction of the 
Central Railroad. But a proposition made by a company of 
men from New York and Boston attracted the attention of 
the legislature. It was in brief as follows : 

1. The memorialists are named as follows : 

Robert Schuyler. Robert Rantoul, Jr. 

Geo. Griswold. Jona. Sturges. 

Gouverneur Morris. Thos. W. Ludlow. 

Franklin Haven. John F. A. Sanford. 
Dav. A. Neal. 

2. They say they have examined the route proposed for 
the road, and they propose to organize a company and employ 
the best of talent in the construction of the road. 

3. They pledge themselves to build the road and have it 
ready for operation by the 4th of July, 1854. 

4. The road shall be as well built as the road running from 
Boston to Albany. 

5. They agree to pay into the treasury of the State an- 
nually per cent of their gross earnings, provided the 

State will transfer to the company the lands granted by con- 
gress for the construction of the road. 

This proposition became the basis of the agreement between 
the State and the company afterwards known as the Illinois 
Central Railroad Company. The rate per cent of the gross 
earnings of the road which should be paid over to the State 
was fixed so that it should be "at least" seven per cent. 

451. Liberality. — At first glance it may appear that the 
government was recklessly liberal in granting two and a half 



A Student's History of Illinois. 393 

millions cf acres for the construction of this railroad. But 
we should remember that there were, in 1850, thousands of 
acres of unentered land, lying in the central and north part 
of the State, which had lain there on the market for from ten 
to twenty-five years. The price was $1.25 per acre. And it 
is said that after the Mexican war, soldiers who had received 
their land warrants were willing to take from fifty to sixty 
cents on the dollar in cash for these warrants. In this way many 
people got cheap lands by buying up land warrants and using 
them in locating homesteads. As soon as the road was built 
and in operation, there was a rapid rise in the prices of land. 
Cities sprang up and farms were opened. This increased 
valuation of these lands soon brought in an increasing amount 
of taxes and thus the burden of the State debt was gradually 
lifted. The cost of the road, according to a statement made 
by Mr. Ackerman in 1883, at that time president of the road, 
was $40,000,000. The sale of the lands along the line of the 
road produced some income for the company, but within a 
few years the company was in debt over $23,000,000. Mr. 
Ackerman further says that the road was kept from bank- 
ruptcy by the heroic work of its officers, assisted by Eichard 
Cobden on behalf of the English shareholders. 

452. The Charter. — The charter granted to the Illinois 
Central Kailroad Company conveyed to that corporation all 
the lands which congress had so generously given to the State 
by the act of September 20, 1850. The provisions of the 
charter, pertaining to the returns which the company should 
make to the State for the gift of the lands, were the result of 
much discussion and several compromises. The memorial ad- 
dressed to the legislature by the nine gentlemen contained 
near the close, this clause : "And the said company, from 
and after the completion of the said road, will pay to the 
State of Illinois, annually, per cent of the gross earn- 
ings of the said railroad, without deduction or charge for ex- 
penses or for any other matter or cause." After a thorough 



394 A Student's History of Illinois. 

discussion of all the interests involved, the following sections 
were incorporated in the charter : 

Section 18. In consideration of the grants, privileges, and fran- 
chises herein conferred upon said company for the purposes afore- 
said, the said company shall, on the first Mondays of December and 
June in each year, pay into the treasury of the State of Illinois five 
per centum on the gross or total proceeds, receipts or income derived 
from said road and branches, for the six months then next preceding. 

The same section then provides for the keeping of accurate 
and detailed records of such income, and for reports, etc., to 
the governor. Section 22 of the charter provides that all the 
lands shall be exempt from taxation till sold by the company. 
It also provides for the exemption of all the stock of the road 
for six years. Then follows this provision: 

Section 22. After the expiration of six years, the stock, property, 
and assets, belonging to said company shall be listed by the presi- 
dent, secretary or other officer, with the auditor of state, and an 
annual tax for State purposes shall be assessed by the auditor upon 
all the property and assets of every name, kind and description be- 
longing to said corporation. Whenever the taxes levied for State 
purposes shall exceed three-fourths of one per centum per annum, 
such excess shall be deducted from the gross proceeds or income 
herein required to be paid by said corporation to the State, and the 
said corporation is hereby exempted from all taxation of every 
kind, except as herein provided for. The revenue or income arising 
from said taxation and the said five per cent of gross or total pro- 
ceeds, receipts or income aforesaid, shall be paid into the State 
treasury in money, and applied to the payment of the interest-pay- 
ing State indebtedness until the extinction thereof ; Provided, in 
case the five per cent, provided to be paid into the State treasury and 
the State taxes to be paid by the corporation, do not amount to 
seven per cent of the gross or total proceeds, receipts, or income, 
then the said company shall pay into the State treasury the dif- 
ference so as to make the whole amount paid equal, at least, to seven 
per cent of the gross receipts of said corporation. 

453. The Income. — The first four semi-annual payments 
made to the State treasury by the Illinois Central Company 
consisted of five per cent of the gross earnings. Since April 



A Student's History of Illinois. 395 

30, 1857, the payments have been made on a basis of seven 
per cent of the gross earnings. The first semi-annual pay- 
ment made October 31, 1855, amounted to $29,751.59. The last 
semi-annual payment made June 30, 1906, was $592,322.46. 
The total paid into the State treasury in the past fifty-one 
years is $24,400,446.27. In at least two instances in the past 
fifty years, the Illinois Central Company has advanced the 
semi-annual payment several months before it was due, and 
thus relieved the State from the embarrassment of a deficit 
in the treasury. 

454. The Contention.— As stated above, the company has 
annually paid seven per cent of its gross earnings into the treas- 
ury with the understanding that this is the maximum amount 
to be paid in lieu of all forms of taxation. The attorney- 
general, the Hon. W. H. Stead, has furnished to the auditor 
of public accounts an opinion upon the subject of taxation of 
the Illinois Central Eailroad Company, which briefly stated 
is as follows: 

1. As provided in section 18 of the charter, the said company is 
required to pay into the State treasury semi-annually on the first 
Mondays in December and June, 5 per cent of the gross earnings for 
the preceding six months. 

2. Section twenty-two of the charter makes it the duty of said 
company to list the stock, property, and assets belonging to the said 
company with the auditor of public accounts for the purpose of 
taxation. 

3. It is the duty of the auditor of public accounts to levy upon 
said property as listed, an annual State tax which shall be paid as 
are other State taxes. (Provision is made that this tax shall never 
exceed 75 cents on the one hundred dollars.) 

4. This tax so levied and collected must be paid into the State 
treasury ; and if this tax, together with the 5 per cent of the gross 
earnings shall not equal 7 per cent of the gross earnings, then the 
company is bound by the charter to make good such deficiency. 

5. If the tax levied by the auditor of public accounts together 
with the 5 per cent of the gross earnings shall exceed 7 per cent of 
the gross earnings the said tax must nevertheless be paid in full. 



396 A Student's History of Illinois. 

6. The provisions of the charter apply to the Illinois Central 
Railroad from Cairo via Centralia to La Salle, 300.99 miles; from 
La Salle via Galena to Dunleith 146.73 miles; from Centralia to Chi- 
cago 249.78 miles; total 697.5 miles. The provisions of the charter 
do not apply to any roads leased, purchased, or built by the com- 
pany other than the 697.5 miles referred to above. 

455. The Valuation. — The said company listed its prop- 
erty with the auditor of public accounts from 1855 to 1859, 
but since that time until the spring of 1906 it has never done 
so 7 claiming that the seven per cent of its gross earnings was 
the maximum amount which the company was required by the 
charter to pay into the State treasury. In the spring of 1906 
the company listed its property with the auditor as the fol- 
lowing letter shows : 

May 31, 1906. 
Mr. Geo. W. Smith, Garbondale, III. 

Dear Sir: — Replying to your favor of the 30th instant. I beg 
to inform you that the property of the Company has been listed to 
the Auditor of Public Accounts as required by the provisions of its 
charter. The value of the property listed is as follows: 

Value of right of way $ 34.409.350 00 

Buildings on right of way 2,290.270 00 

Main track 24,745.000 00 

2nd, 3rd, 4th and additional main track 9,400.650 00 

Side and turnout track 3.385.830 00 

Rolling stock 13.508,910 00 

Personal property other than rolling stock 405.918 00 

Bonds, stocks and cash 66.870.728 50 



$155,016,656 50 
Yours truly, 

J. S. McCULLOUGH, 

Auditor P. A. 



In another communication from the auditor of public ac- 
counts, in answer to an inquiry as to the amount of taxes paid 
for the year 1905 by the Illinois Central Railroad Company, 
he says: "The State tax at 50 cents on the $100 and five 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



397 



per cent of the gross earnings of the company for the year 
1905 do not amount to seven per cent of the gross receipts of 
the company for the said year; consequently, the company 
has paid to the state treasurer in full the sum of seven per 
cent of the gross earnings." 

The total tax paid by the company for the year ending 
April 30, 1906, was $1,143,097.46, which was seven per cent 
of the gross earnings of the road. Five-sevenths of this sum, 
or five per cent of gross earnings, is $816,498.18. The cap- 
ital stock, etc., of the road is $155,016,656.50, which as- 
sessed according to the rules for the assessment of this class 
of property does not raise as much as two per cent of the 
gross earnings. The company has, therefore, as stated above 
by the auditor of public accounts, paid into the state treas- 
ury the seven per cent of the gross earnings according to the 
requirements of the charter. 




Ten Thirty-one. One of the latest products of the works of the American 

Locomotive Co, This type of engine is used by the Illinois 

Central to pull its Chicago-New Orleans Special. 



398 A Student's History of Illinois. 



CHAPTER XLI. 



A NEW BANKING SYSTEM. 



456. Constitutional Provision. — The experience of Illi- 
nois in the banking business, had been so unfortunate that there 
was inserted in the constitution of 1848, Article X., Section 5, 
this provision : "No act of the general assembly, authorizing 
corporations or associations with banking powers, shall go 
into effect or in any manner be enforced, unless the same shall 
be submitted to the people at the general election next suc- 
ceding the passage of the same, and be approved by a major- 
ity of all the votes cast at such election for and against such 
law." Section 4, of the same article provided that all stock- 
holders in banking associations issuing bank notes, should be 
individually responsible proportionately to the stock held by 
each, for all liabilities of the corporation or association. Since 
the winding up of affairs of the old State Bank and the Bank 
of Illinois there were no banks in Illinois issuing bank bills. 
The only money in circulation was gold and silver, and paper 
money from banks located in other states. 

457. New York Plan.— In 1838, the legislature of New 
York passed a law which created a system of banking quite 
different from anything before tried in this country. This 
bill provided the following plan, briefly outlined : 

1. A person or persons might deposit with the> comptroller of the 
State a certain amount of United States bonds, New York State 
bonds, or other state bonds, or mortgages to be approved by that 
officer, as security. 

2. The comptroller issued to such persons bank bills which when 
properly signed by the bank officers might be put into circulation as 
money. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 399 

3. Said notes when put in circulation were to be redeemed by the 
bank when presented for redemption by the holder within a limited 
time, or 

4. The comptroller could sell the bonds deposited with him and 
redeem said bank notes. 

5. In case the State had to wind up the affairs of any such bank 
and the securities on deposit did not bring an amount equal to the 
outstanding bank notes, the available cash from the sale of the 
bonds was used in paying as large a per cent as possible on the dol- 
lar, and all else was lost to the bank-note holder. 

458. Referendum. — Upon the face of this law it looked 
as if there was scarcely any chance for loss to the bank-note 
holder and of course there could be none to the State as it 
was acting merely in the capacity of an agent of trust. Fol- 
lowing the ratification of the constitution of 1848, there be- 
gan almost immediately an agitation for banks of issue in 
Illinois. In the session of 1851 the legislature passed a bank- 
ing law modeled upon the New York law outlined above. This 
law could not go into effect until ratified by the majority of 
the votes cast at a general election. The general election was 
provided for in November, 1851, and the vote stood — for the 
law, 37,626; against the law, 31,405 — a very light vote. 

459. Free Banking.- — This law was called the "Free Bank- 
ing Law," because anyone could go into the banking business. 
That is one did not have to have a specially enacted charter. 
The securities were to be deposited with the auditor of public 
accounts, and might consist of United States bonds, Illinois 
state bonds, other state bonds. A provision in the law con- 
templated the depreciation in value of State bonds and so 
they were not taken for their full face value. No bank could 
be organized with a smaller bank issue than $50,000. It was 
also provided in the law that if any bank refused to redeem 
its issue, it was liable to a fine of 12| per cent on the amount 
presented for redemption. 

460. Redemption. — One way the bank managed to keep 
people from presenting their bills for redemption was as fol- 



400 A Student's History of Illinois. 

lows: A bank, say in Springfield, Illinois, would send $25,- 
000 of its own issue to a bank in Massachusetts, say in Bos- 
ton ; the Boston bank returning a like amount to the Spring- 
field bank. Each bank would then pay out this money over 
its counter in small quantities and in this way the Springfield 
bank issue would become scattered all over New England and 
no person holding but a few dollars would think of coming 
to Springfield to get his bills redeemed. The issue of the Bos- 
ton bank would be scattered through the west. In this way, 
and in other ways the money of Illinois became scattered in 
other states while in the ordinary business transactions in 
this State one would handle a large number of bills daily 
which had been issued in other states. 

No doubt many corporations went into the banking busi- 
ness under this law with clean hands and carried on a prop- 
erly conducted banking business but there were ways by which 
irresponsible and dishonest men might go into the banking 
business and make large sums of money without very much 
capital invested. 

461. Wild Cat Banks. — Those banks were known as Wild 
Cat Banks. The name is said to have originated from the 
picture of a wild cat engraved on the bills of one of these ir- 
responsible banks in Michigan. However, they may have 
been named from the fact that the word wild cat was often 
applied to any irresponsible venture or scheme. 

There were, in Illinois, organized under this law, 115 
banks of issue. I T p to ISfiO the "ultimate security" was suffi- 
cient at any time to redeem all outstanding bills, but when the 
Civil war came on the securities of the southern states, on de- 
posit in the auditor's office, depreciated greatly in value. The 
banks were going into liquidation rapidly. They redeemed 
their bills at all prices from par down to forty-nine cents on 
the dollar. It is estimated that the bill-holders lost about 
$400,000, but that it came in such a w r ay that it was not felt 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



401 



seriously. This system of banking was followed by the Na- 
tional Banking System with which we are acquainted today. 
The one hundred and fifteen banks of issue which were in 
operation in Illinois just prior to the Civil war, issued nearly 
a thousand different kinds of bank bills. Because of the large 
number of kinds of bills, counterfeiting was easy, and it is 
said that much of the money in circulation was counterfeit. 
Bankers received reports as to the condition of the banks over 
the state daily. One never knew when he presented a bill in 
payment of a debt, whether or not it was of any value. Often 
the merchant would accept this paper money only when heav- 
ily discounted. 




Soldiers' Orphans' Home, Normal. 



402 



A Student's History of Illinois. 




GOVERNOR JOEL A, MATTESON. 

J 853— J 857. 



CHAPTER XLII. 



GOVERNOR JOEL MATTESON— THE PUBLIC SCHOOL 
SYSTEM. 

462. Campaign of 1852. — Governor French served six 
years as governor, two years under the constitution of 1818, 
and four years under that of 1848. For the office of governor, 
the Democrats nominated in April, 1852, Joel A. Matteson, 
of Will county. The Whigs put forward Edwin B. Webb, of 
White county; while the Abolitionists or Free Soilers nom- 



A Student's History of Illinois. 403 

inated Dexter A. Knowlton, of Stephenson. The campaign 
was spiritless and resulted in the election of Matteson by a 
majority over both, of more than 7,000. Governor Matteson 
was a man of affairs. He had been engaged chiefly as a busi- 
ness man, though he had served in the legislature for ten 
years. Gustavus Koerner, of St. Clair county, was elected 
lieutenant governor. He was born in Germany, was liberally 
educated, and was a lawyer of marked ability. 

463. Legislation. — Governor Matteson showed in his first 
message that he was a practical man. He recommended a 
public school system, a liberal policy toward the granting of 
charters to corporations to build railroads, and the building 
of a penitentiary in the northern part of the State. Some of 
the legislation of the session of 1853, dealt with the temper- 
ance question, with free negroes, building an executive man- 
sion, besides the subjects referred to in the governor's mes- 
sage. Ex-Governor John Reynolds was elected to this 
legislature and was chosen speaker of the house. He had 
served on the supreme bench, in the legislature, as governor, 
congressman, and now came back to serve in the legislature. 
Stephen A. Douglas was elected to another term in the United 
States senate. 

464. Prosperity. — Everything pointed to a very prosper- 
ous future for the State, and although the debt was appar- 
ently appalling yet those who had clear financial vision could 
see the dawning of better days. The debt at this time, Janu- 
ary 1, 1853, according to the report of the governor was $17,- 
398,985. But the State was now to receive an income from 
the canal and soon from the Illinois Central Railroad; be- 
sides the general taxes were now assessed upon a valuation of 
more than $200,000,000. 

465. Slavery Agitation. — During the years of Mr. Mat- 
tesons administration, there was great agitation in Illinois 



404 A Student's History of Illinois. 

on the slavery question. The constitution of 1848, had abol- 
ished slavery, but there were in the State quite a number of 
free negroes. The "underground railroad'' was in active op- 
eration and had been since 1835. The fugitive slave law 
passed by congress in 1850 was very obnoxious to many people 
and the underground railway was liberally patronized in the 
years '51, '52, and '53. On February 12, 1853, the legislature 
passed a law concerning free negroes and mulattoes. This 
law made it a crime to bring into the State a negro. Again 
if a negro came into the State and remained ten days, he was 
liable to arrest, and to be fined $50. If he could not pay the 
fine he was sold to anyone who would pay the cost of the ar- 
rest and trial. This law was intended to serve two purposes; 
first to make it a crime to assist negroes into the State and in 
making their escape, and second to enable the southern slave 
catcher to get possession of his slave at the actual cost of ar- 
rest and trial. Nor was the slave question at all pacified by 
the passage of the law repealing the Missouri Compromise. 
Mr. Douglas was the champion of the bill in congress and 
when he returned to Illinois he found many of his neighbors 
and friends actively and even bitterly opposed to the measure. 
All over the State there were speches, conventions, and resolu- 
tions denouncing it. An active newspaper war was every- 
where waged against the measure. The bill was passed in 
May, 1854, and the congressional canvass was carried on 
through the summer months following. Douglas attempted to 
explain his action but in many places he was treated with 
scant courtesy by the disappointed people. 

There was a great disturbance in political parties and new 
parties were being formed. These shall have our attention 
presently. 

466. Free School System. — One of the most far reaching 
measures enacted into law during Governor Mattesoms term 



A Student's History of Illinois. 405 

was the bill which ushered in our free public school system. 
In a previous chapter we have reviewed the legislation pertain- 
ing to public schools up to 1830. Between 1830 and 1855 
nothing of any special merit was done by the legislature af- 
fecting the school system. Common schools were conducted 
in nearly every neighborhood but only for a few months in 
the year. In 1833 the legislature passed a law which pro- 
vided that the teacher should receive a proportionate share of 
the school fund. The teacher was required to keep a schedule 
of the daily attendance, and upon this attendance as a pro- 
portionate part of the total attendance in that township his 
share of the fund depended. 

In 1833, February 13, an educational convention was held 
in Vandalia. Tins meeting was the first of its kind in the 
State. Judge James Hall made an address. The purpose 
seemed to have been to gather and disseminate information of 
the educational progress in the State. 

467. Peck, Turner, and Others.— In 1834, February 22, 
we find in the Sangamon Journal an account of a meeting 
which looked toward the creation of the office of state super- 
intendent. Prof. J. B. Turner spent the summer of 1834 
preaching and talking the free common school idea. He trav- 
elled extensively in western Illinois delivering public ad- 
dresses and talking the need of a system of free public schools. 
The legislature met in December, 1834, and all through the 
summer preceding, the Rev. J. M. Peck was hard at work 
creating public sentiment favorable to common free schools. 
In his paper, the "Pioneer and Western Baptist," he said in 
August, that "During the late contest most of the candidates 
have come out decidedly and unequivocally in favor of a sys- 
tem of common schools." 

Mr. Peck and others were also preparing for the second 
State Educational Convention, which was to be held in Van- 



406 A Student's History of Illinois. 

dalia in December. The second meeting was held the first 
Friday night in December following the opening of the legis- 
lature. The Hon. Cyrus Edwards, brother of Ninian Ed- 
wards, was made chairman, and Stephen A. Douglas, secre- 
tary. This meeting was made up largely of members of the 
legislature. They issued an- address to the people and a 
memorial to the legislature. They discussed methods of rais- 
ing money to maintain the common schools, the qualification 
of teachers, and the method by which the school might be 
supervised and the funds properly distributed. 

The result of this meeting was the introduction of a bill 
into the legislature by the Hon. W. J. Gatewood, from Galla- 
tin county, providing for a public school system. This plan 
included a seminary in each county for the preparation of 
teachers. But the legislature would permit no bill to pass 
which imposed additional taxes upon the people. At this ses- 
sion of the legislature charters were granted to four colleges : 
Illinois, Shurtleff, McKendree, and Jonesboro. 

The "Illinois Teachers' Association' was organized dur- 
ing the commencement exercises of Illinois College, in Sep- 
tember, 1836. It maintained four annual meetings and then 
appears to have suspended. The Eev. John F. Brooks, of 
Springfield, and the teachers in Illinois College, were the mov- 
ing spirits. 

The secret of the delay in getting a school system in Illi- 
nois in an early day, seems to have been this, — all plans or 
systems were introduced and urged by the Yankee portion of 
the settlers while a majority of the legislature and perhaps 
of the population was from the slave states where they had lit- 
tle use for free schools. 

468. School Journal. — The first school journal was pub- 
lished at Jacksonville by E. T. and E. Goudy. It was called 
"The Common School Advocate." It was a high grade, schol- 



A Student's History of Illinois. 407 

arly publication. It urged the creation of national and State 
secretaries of education, and may properly be credited with 
originating the idea of a state superintendent of public in- 
struction, though the Hon. Cyrus Edwards, about this time 
in a public address in Alton, suggested the same thought. 

In the session of the legislature of 1839-40 a bill to make 
the office of county superintendent elective, was defeated in 
the senate. A bill to create the office of state superintendent 
was dubbed a bill to create a schoolmaster-general. A meeting 
of the friends of education was held in Springfield in De- 
cember, 1840. Steps were taken to form a permanent or- 
ganization of the friends of education, and a committee was 
appointed to formulate a constitution. The committee reported 
a constitution for "The Illinois State Education Society." A 
memorial was addressed to the legislature which said: "Let 
a superintendent of common schools be appointed — a man of 
talents, and yet a laborious and self-sacrificing man, etc." No 
doubt as a result of this meeting of the friends of education, 
a bill was introduced into the legislature entitled, "An Act 
making provisions for organizing and maintaining common 
schools." 

Mr. Charles G. Snow, now of Jacksonville, this State, was 
a young school teacher in Ohio as early as 1837. In 1841 he 
came to this State and taught continuously 'till 1896. His 
service as a public school teacher covers a period of fifty-nine 
years. Of the schools in Illinois when he first came to the 
State he says : "Everything was crude then as compared with 
the present in the way of appliances. No steel pens, but quills 
were used in their stead. No patent seats, no wall maps or 
artificial globes, no blackboards nor prepared copy-books. The 
text-books were the elementary speller, McGufTey's readers, 
Pike's arithmetic and Western Calculator, Mitchell and 01- 
ney's geographies, and Murray's and Kirkham's grammars." 



408 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



He further says : "The 
building in which I 
first taught was a log 
structure about six- 
teen feet square. It 
was not built for 
school purposes, but 
was formerly used as 
a dwelling. I got $10 
and boarded with my 
patrons.'' 

469. John S. Wright. 
—From 1840 to 1855, 
probably no man was 
more devoted to the 
establishment of a 
rational system of 
schools for the State 
than Mr. John S. 
Wright. He labored 
in and out of season 
for the good of educa- 
tion in general, but particularly in the interest of common 
schools and for the better preparation of teachers. He was 
without doubt the first one to suggest a state seminary, (a 
State Normal,) for the education of teachers. He called the 
state convention at Peoria in 184-1, through the Prairie 
Farmer which he was at that time publishing. At this meet- 
ing a memorial was drafted and later presented to the legis- 
lature. The chief points were that taxation is the only means 
by which the common school system can be sustained, and 
that there was great need of a state superintendent of public 
instruction. 

As a result of this meeting and this memorial the legis- 
lature passed a bill making the secretary of state ex-officio 




Rev, C. G. Snow, Jacksonville, III., probably the 
oldest living teacher in the state. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



409 



state superintendent of the common schools; and the com- 
missioner of school lands in each county ex-officio county su- 
perintendent of schools in his county. This was substantial 
progress. In this bill the congressional township was made a 




A School House of the Early Days — still in use. 



school township with trustees who should "district" the town- 
ship, each district electing a board of directors. Power was 
given the people in each district, to levy by vote, taxes not 
exceeding fifteen cents on the hundred dollars for school pur- 
poses. 

470. County Institutes. — Teachers' meetings and conven- 
tions were held in various parts of the State, and the Prairie 
Farmer was the chief educational publication. Educational 
conventions were held in Winchester, Peoria, Jacksonville, 
Chicago, and Springfield. The county superintendents began 
to hold meetings of those engaged in teaching in their coun- 



410 A Student's History of Illinois. 

lies. The secretary of state, now ex-officio state superintend- 
ent of common schools, made a report in 1847. This report 
shows: Schools, 1,592; scholars, 46,814; township fund, 
$557,780; funds raised by taxation, $8,763; school houses, 
1,328; average wages for teachers, $12.90; district libraries, 
21; teachers in fifty-six counties reporting, 1,535. County 
superintendents soon began to make reports, many of which 
are very interesting. The Eev. S. G. Wright was county su- 
perintendent of Stark county and made a report in 1851 of 
the schools in his county. He numbers his schools from one 
to twenty-four, probably to prevent humiliating the people in 
the district if names should be given. He says : 

No. 10. This house is pretty comfortable for a log cabin, if only- 
well seated. The seats are rough slabs, and the desk is a long board 
laid on pins driven into the wall, and high enough for most of the 
scholars to stand by and write. The teacher is a male and his wages 
are $18 per month and he boards himself. 

No. 11. They have no school house in this district but have 
fitted an old log cabin for that purpose for the present. It has a 
large fireplace in it, heating those near it beyond endurance, while 
those in the back part suffer with cold and all with smoke. The 
teacher is a male and his wages are $14 per month and he boards 
himself. 

No. 15. This is a good sized log cabin, but very badly seated. 
There is one writing desk which is eight inches too high, and two 
rough boards lying on two trusses, yet this does not give room 
enough to the writers. They have no blackboards, and the seats are 
mostly rough slabs. There are fifty-two scholars, the average 
attendance is thirty. The house is dirty. True, it was swept just 
as the teacher and myself came up and we had to stand some min- 
utes in the street to prevent suffocation. The teacher is a male and 
his wages are $16 a month and board. 

In 1847, there were eighteen teachers employed in the 
city of Chicago and there were enrolled about 1,200 pupils. 

471. Farmers' Institute. — In 1851, at Granville, Putnam 
county, was held a farmers' convention at which steps were 
taken that resulted in founding the State University. A sec- 



A Student's History of Illinois. 411 

oncl convention was held in Springfield, probably in the early 
part of 1852, and a third in Chicago in November, 1852. The 
name was now changed to "The Industrial League of Illinois/' 
A fourth was held in Springfield in January, 1853. The fifth 
meeting was held in Springfield, February, 1854. The legis- 
lature, at the session of 1854, considered a bill to incorporate 
the "Trustees of Illinois University.'' The objects were stated 
to be: 1. To establish a normal department; 2. To establish 
an agricultural department ; and 3. A mechanical department. 
The bill did not become a law. 

472. Swamp Lands. — Congress, in 1850, granted the states 
all the swamp lands in them yet remaining unsold. Illinois 
received about 1,500,000 acres. The legislature provided for 
the sale of this land for the purpose of securing funds for 
draining the remainder of the land. And if any should be 
left after the drainage expense had been met, it should be di- 
verted into the school fund. Some half million dollars or 
more was thus added to the township and county school funds. 

In the fall of 1853, a call was signed by thirty-two promi- 
nent teachers and friends to education assembled, providing 
for a meeting in Springfield on December 26, 1853, to con- 
sider the various phases of public education. An organiza- 
tion, was perfected with the name, "The State Teachers' In- 
stitute of Illinois." It was chartered in 1855, and in 1857 
the charter name was changed to "The Illinois State Teach- 
ers' Association." This is now a very important factor in ed- 
ucational progress in Illinois. It holds its annual meetings 
at Springfield during the Christmas holidays and has a mem- 
bership of more than 1,000 teachers. 

473. State Superintendent. — A special session of the leg- 
islature was called by Governor Matteson for February 9, 
1854. Among the subjects which are named upon which he 
wished action was "to amend the school law and provide a 
superintendent of common schools for the State." A bill cre- 
ating the office of state superintendent passed both houses by 



412 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



large majorities. An error in dates rendered it necessary for 
the governor to appoint a state superintendent until the gen- 
eral election in 1856. The Hon. Ninian W. Edwards, son of 
Gov. Ninian Edwards, and a man of wide experience and gen- 
eral culture, was named by 
Governor Matteson as the first 
state superintendent. The 
act creating the office made it 
the duty of the state superin- 
tendent to draft a bill and pre- 
sent it to the legislature at the 
next session, January, 1855, 
providing a comprehensive free 
school system. Mr. Edwards, 
upon receiving this appoint- 
ment, began a careful study of 
the condition of the schools in 
this as well as in other states. 

Upon the assembling Of the H on. Ninian W. Edwards, the first State 
legislature he presented a bill Superintendent of Public Instruction. 

which, with slight modifica- 
tions, became the law which created our present free school 
system. 

The essential features of the system of 1855, as differing 
from those of previous years, were that the people of the dis- 
trict had the power to levy and to have collected, as were other 
taxes, a sum of money upon the real and personal property in 
the district, which being supplemented by the income from the 
permanent school fund of the township and the county, to- 
gether with that from the State, should be sufficient to main- 
tain a school six months. And before a district could receive 
its share of the State fund it must have maintained a school 
for at least six months in the year. The people in the dis- 
trict were also given power to levy additional taxes beyond 
that allowed by the law provided the majority of the voters in 




A Student's History of Illinois. 



413 



the district so determined at an election held for that pur- 
pose. The next most important feature was a provision which 
compelled the teacher to pass an examination and establish 
his proficiency in the branches to be taught in the school be- 
fore he could draw any money from the school fund. Prior 
to this the directors might examine and if they requested it, 
the county commissioner must issue the certificate. 

The law of 1855 had a wholesome effect on the cause of 
education. The number of pupils in schools greatly increased, 
new schools were established, the standard of the teacher's 
qualification was raised, and wages rose rapidly. 



\79\ JOHN McLEAN 1H30 

OF 

SHAWNEETOWN ILLINOIS 

FOR WHOM THIS COUNTY WAS NAMED 

FIRST REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS 1818 

U-S-SENATOR 1824-1825 AND 1829-1830 

ERECTED BY 

THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND 

McLEAN CO* HISTORICAL SOCIETY 

DECEMBER 6TH- 1898 



Tablet in the McLean County Court House. 



414 A Student's History of Illinois. 



CHAPTER XLIIL 

A SHORT CHAPTER ON ILLINOIS POLITICS. 

474. Parties. — When Illinois came into the Union in 1818, 
there was but one party in this country. This was what we 
know as the Democratic party, then often called the Repub- 
lican party. When Jackson became president, there were Jack- 
son men and anti-Jackson men, the old Federalist party hav- 
ing run its course. In the struggle over slavery in Illinois 
from 1833 to 1837 there were two factions, but they were all 
Democrats. But by 1840, there were distinct political par- 
ties, the Whigs and the Democrats. There were also Aboli- 
tionists who might be either Whigs or Democrats. The Whigs 
were fairly well organized from 1840 to 1854. 

In 1852 at the Whig convention in Illinois the presiding 
officer stated publicly that there was not much chance for the 
Whigs but that they should keep up a bold front for the sake 
of their friends in other states. When the repeal of the Mis- 
souri Compromise was before congress, there was great in- 
terest in Illinois among the political parties, since it appeared 
that the line of cleavage would henceforth be between those 
who favored slavery and those who opposed it. 

475. Anti-Nebraska. — In many counties in Illinois there 
were conventions and other public meetings held for the pur- 
pose of protesting against the repeal of the Missouri Compro- 
mise. One such convention which met in Springfield in Octo- 
ber, 1854, took the name Republican. Stephen A. Douglas, one 
of the United States senators from Illinois, was the champion 
of the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Of course all southern Demo- 
crats would be with him, so would those southern Whigs who 
were slave-holders and wished to see slave territory extended. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 415 

There were in the north and east Whigs who opposed the re- 
peal of the Missouri Compromise. The Abolitionists, if they 
took any hand in the contest at all, would naturally be against 
the measure. All Free-Soilers were bitterly opposed to the 
repeal. The Know-Nothings were against slavery. There was 
thus in Illinois in 1854, on one side of the Anti-Nebraska 
question, the Democratic party, led by Douglas, which re- 
mained loyal to the national Democratic administration. This 
party was for the repeal of the Missouri Compromise. There 
were on the other side of the dividing line Free-Soilers, Whigs, 
Know-Nothings, Independent Democrats, and Abolitionists. 

476. Common Ground. — The common ground upon which 
all or nearly all of these opponents of the Democratic party 
could stand, was opposition to the spread of slavery into the 
territory of the United States. Public meetings, resolutions, 
and platforms of principles were the order of the day. In 
Kane county a meeting was held on August 19, 1854, at which 
the following platform was adopted : 

We. the people of Kane county, in mass convention asembled, 
irrespective of party, in view of the long continued encroachments 
of the slave power, culminating at last in the repeal of the law of 
freedom in all the hitherto unorganized territories of the Union, will 
co-operate with friends of freedom throughout the State in an effort 
to bring the government back to first principles ; to restore Kansas 
and Nebraska to the position of free territories; to repeal the fugi- 
tive slave law : to restrict slavery in the States in which it exists ; 
to prohibit the admission of any more slave States into the union ; 
to exclude slavery from all the territories over which the govern- 
ment has exclusive jurisdiction ; restrict the acquirement of any 
new slave territory ; and the repeal of the inhuman and barbarous 
black laws of this State. 

This expresses very generally the feeling of the Anti-Ne- 
braska party throughout the State. 

477. Anti-Nebraska Convention. — Anti-Nebraska candi- 
dates were nominated for congress, and an Anti-Nebraska 
State Convention, which met in Springfield, October 3, 1854, 



416 A Student's History of Illinois. 

consisting of but twenty-six delegates, nominated a candidate, 
J. E. MeClun, for the office of state treasurer. Mr. McClim's 
name was later replaced by that of Mr. James Miller. A plat- 
form was announced and a central committee appointed. Mr. 
Lincoln was on the central committee. A vigorous campaign 
was made. Chase and Giddings, of Ohio, assisted in the cam- 
paign in this State. Mr. Miller was defeated for treasurer, 
but three of the nine congressmen from Illinois were Anti- 
Nebraska or Eepublican. They were Elihu B. Washburne, 
James Knox, and Jesse 0. Norton. 

478. Democratic State Convention. — The Anti-Nebraska 
elements were drawn together all over the country, and the 
Democrats of Illinois felt keenly the need of holding all their 
forces together. They issued a call as early as December 1, 
1855, for their state convention, which should meet in Spring- 
field May 1, 1856. At this convention the Hon. W. A. Ander- 
son, of Adams county, was nominated for governor. Col. R. J. 
Hamilton, of Cook, was nominated for lieutenant-governor. 
The platform affirmed that congress had no right to abolish, 
establish, or prohibit slavery in the states or territories. It 
approved the principle of popular sovereignty, the compro- 
mise of 1850, and declared that the foreign born citizens ought 
not to be proscribed on account of their nativity or religion. 

479. Decatur Editorial Convention. — The Anti-Nebraska 
party or what came to be the Eepublican party, was very ac- 
tive during the year 1855, and early in that year definite and 
vigorous lines of political actions were laid out for the guid- 
ance of the party in the campaign before it. The Hon. Paul 
Selby, now an honored citizen of Chicago, was at that time 
editor of the Morgan (Jacksonville) Journal. Mr. Selby is- 
sued a call through the columns of his paper for a convention 
of all Anti-Nebraska editors, to be held in Decatur, February 
22, 1856, for the purpose of formulating definite plans in the 
coming campaign. Mr. Selby was honored with the chairman- 
ship of the convention, and Mr. William J. ITsrev, editor of 



A Student's History of Illinois. 417 

the Decatur Chronicle, was made secretary. There was only 
one fundamental point upon which all agreed, that was oppo- 
sition to the Kansas-Nebraska bill. There were, of course, 
many points of difference among the dozen editors present; 
but they were all wise enough and patriotic enough to leave 
these differences unnoticed. Strong resolutions against the 
Kansas-Nebraska legislation were passed, and a call was is- 
sued for a state convention of Anti-Nebraska people to meet 
in Bloomington May 29, 1856. To further the interests of 
such a movement, this convention of editors appointed a sort 
of executive committee consisting of one from each congres- 
sional district and two at large, making eleven in all. This 
committee issued the call, apportioned the delegates, and made 
other provisions for the Bloomington convention. 

480. The Bloomington Convention. — The convention as- 
sembled on the 29th of May. Out of 102 counties in the State 
about thirty counties were not represented. In some instances 
men came as representatives having no credentials. In other 
cases the properly accredited delegates were accompanied by 
scores of sympathetic citizens. There were present the rep- 
resentatives of at least four political parties — Whigs, Demo- 
crats, Know-Nothings, and Abolitionists. It was not called a 
Republican convention. Prominent among those who were 
there were John M. Palmer, who was selected as the chairman 
of the convention, Abraham Lincoln, 0. H. Browning, John 
Wentworth, Richard Yates, Owen Lovejoy, Richard Oglesby, 
Gustavus Koerner, David Davis, Norman B. Judd, Joseph 
Medill, and scores of others who afterward filled responsible 
positions in the party organization as well as in the State 
and nation. 

481. The Platform. — The platform was a short but clear 
statement of the principles upon which a State and national 
party might be grounded. There were six resolutions. 



418 



A Student's History of Illinois. 




S 

!2 8 

> *So 



Is 






n 



A Student's History of Illinois. 419 

1. They pledge themselves to wrest the government from the 
Democratic party by honorable and constitutional means and restore 
it to the principles of Washington and Jefferson. 

2. They hold to the doctrine held by all the statesmen of the first 
sixty years that congress has the constitutional right to control 
slavery in the United States. 

3. They affirm that the repeal of the Missouri Compromise was 
a violation of the plighted faith of the states, and pledge themselves 
to restore by constitutional means Kansas and Nebraska to freedom. 

4. They declare their allegience to the Union and denounce the 
disunionists who are trying to bring about its dissolution. 

5. They favor the immediate admission of Kansas with the con- 
stitution adopted by the people of the territory. 

(J. Resolved, That the spirit of our institutions, as well as the 
constitution of our country, guarantees the liberty of conscience as 
well as political freedom, and that we will proscribe no one, by legis- 
lation or otherwise, on account of religious opinions, or in conse- 
quence of place of birth. 

A State ticket was nominated as follows: For governor, 
William H. Bissell ; for lieutenant governor, Francis A. Hoff- 
man (afterwards replaced by John Wood) ; secretary of state, 
0. M. Hatch; auditor, Jesse K. Dubois; treasurer, James 
Miller; superintendent of public instruction, William H. 
Powell. 

482. The Lost Speech. — Of course there was much oratory 
and not a little prophesying. Among those who spoke was 
Abraham Lincoln, but unfortunately his speech was not re- 
duced to writing and it has poetically been called the "Lost 
Speech." Men yet living who heard it differ as to some of the 
details, but upon the main and fundamental points there seems 
to be unanimity. Mr. Herndon has said : "I have heard and 
read all of Mr. Lincoln's great speeches, and I give it as my 
opinion that the Bloomington speech was the grand effort of 
his life.... His eyes were aglow with inspiration; he felt 
justice ; his heart was alive to the right ; his sympathies, re- 
markably deep for him, burst forth, as he stood before the 
throne of eternal right." 



420 A Student's History of Illinois. 

483. Other Parties. — The Democratic party had held its 
convention the first of May, and nominated Col. William A. 
Richardson, of Quincy, for governor, with a complete State 
ticket. Colonel Richardson had been a representative in con- 
gress for the past eleven years and had been a faithful ally of 
Douglas. He was considered a very strong candidate at the 
head of a strong ticket. 

There was another political party which took part in the 
canvass. It was called the Native American Party. It put 
forth Buckner S. Morris for governor. The vote for governor 
stood, Bissell, 111,375; Richardson, 106,643; Morris, 19,087. 

The canvass was full of interest. The Republicans looked 
hopefully forward to success, while the Democrats saw that 
their only chance was to keep their opponents from fusing 
their interests. The Anti-Nebraska people, or the Republicans 
as they were beginning to be called, were bitterly denounced 
as "Black Republicans," and as Abolitionists. The Republic- 
ans brought in noted speakers from abroad. Lincoln made 
about fifty speeches. The Republicans made very little head- 
way in the south end of the State. In eight southern counties 
there were cast for Fremont only fifty-one votes. Buchanan 
carried the electoral vote but the Republicans elected four of 
the nine congressmen, besides the State ticket. The legisla- 
ture was Democratic, 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



421 




GOVERNOR WM. H. BISSELL. 

J857— J860. 



CHAPTER XLIV. 



A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR. 

484. Inaugurated. — The inauguration of a Republican 
governor in Illinois was an event of no ordinary interest. The 
Democratic party had furnished all the governors since the 
days of Shadrach Bond. The new party was less than four 
years old, yet it held within its ranks in Illinois men who be- 
came famous in the halls of legislation, in high executive sta- 
tions, on the bench as honored jurists, and as heroes upon the 
field of battle. Governor Bissell was inaugurated January 13, 



422 A Student's History of Illinois. 

1857. He had for some time previous to this campaign been 
an invalid, having been paralyzed in his limbs. He could walk 
only with the aid of crutches and then only with difficulty. He 
was not able to go to the capitol to take the oath, so the legis- 
lature went in a body to the executive mansion where, in the 
presence of the two houses, he took the oath of office. His 
inaugural address was read to the two houses. It was a very 
simple, plain document. However, it was to many members 
quite objectionable inasmuch as the governor took occasion to 
discuss the slavery question in Kansas. When, therefore, a 
motion was made in the house to print 20,000 copies of the 
message a debate was precipitated which was so violent as to 
engender a bitter feeling among those who took part in it. 

485. Dueling. — To understand this topic it will be neces- 
sary to review some of our history. Dueling had been a com- 
mon practice between "men of honor' for many years. The 
laws of Illinois regarded dueling as murder when the "affair" 
ended in the death of either party. For being engaged in one 
of these affairs when death was not the result, the punishment 
was a disabilty from holding any office of honor, trust, or 
profit, and a fine. But the laws were seldom executed though 
many prominent citizens were entangled in these "affairs of 
honor." 

In the constitutional convention of 1847, there was found 
a very strong sentiment in favor of some measure which would 
effectually put a check to this heathenish practice. It was 
noticed that most of the "affairs of honor ' had been between 
men who either were or hoped to be politicians and office hold- 
ers. The thought was presented that the practice of dueling 
might be checked by adding to the ordinary oath of office a 
sort of iron-clacl oath which could not be taken by those who 
had engaged in dueling. Accordingly, Mr. E. B. Servant, a 
delegate from Randolph county, introduced Article 13, Sec- 
tion 26, which is as follows: 



A Student's History of Illinois. 423 

The Oath. Article 13, section 20, That from and after the adop- 
tion of this constitution every person who shall be elected or ap- 
pointed to any office of profit, trust, or emolument, civil or military, 
legislative, executive or judicial under the government of this State, 
shall, before he enters upon the duties of his office, in addition to 
the oath prescribed in this constitution, take the following oath: 

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm as the case may be) that I have 
not fought a duel, nor sent or accepted a challenge to fight a duel, 
the probable issue of which might have been the death of either 
party, nor have been a second to either party, nor in any manner 
aided or assisted in such duel, nor been knowingly the bearer of such 
challenge or acceptance, since the adoption of the constitution ; and 
that I will not be so engaged or concerned, directly or indirectly in 
or about any such duel, during my continuance in office. So help 
me God." 

486. A Challenge. — It so occurred that Colonel Bissell, 
while a member of congress in 1850, sat one day and heard a 
member from Virginia, Mr. Seddon, speak slightingly of the 
conduct of the Illinois troops in the battle of Buena Vista, 
and praise the valor of a Mississippi regiment which was 
commanded that day by Jefferson Davis. Colonel Bissell had 
the honor to command the second Illinois regiment in that 
battle, while the lamented John J. Hardin was in command 
of the first Illinois regiment. Hardin fell dead upon the bat- 
tlefield and his place was taken by Lieutenant Colonel Weath- 
erford. Both regiments lost heavily in the battle — the first 
losing 45, the dead being 29; the second loss 131, the dead 
numbering 62. 

Colonel Bissell resolved not to rest under the disgrace 
thus heaped upon Illinois' sons living and dead, and although 
a new member he made one of the most dashing, and brilliant 
speeches of the session in which he proved that Davis' regi- 
ment was not within a mile and a half of the battle at the 
stated time and never fired a gun in that part of the engage- 
ment. Colonel Bissell, fired by his patriotism and his love 
for the dead he left on the Mexican soil, marked himself as 
one of the nation's most brilliant orators. Jefferson Davis, 



424 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



who was then a senator from Mississippi, made inquiry of 
Colonel Bissell by means of a note as to his reflection on the 
Mississippi regiment. Colonel BisselPs reply was of such a 
nature that Davis felt called upon to challenge Bissell to a 
duel. Bissell accepted the challenge, chose army muskets as 




Illinois Normal University, Normal, III* 



the weapon to be loaded with a ball and three buck shots, the 
distance being forty paces. Bissell was in earnest and before 
the hour set for tke duel the friends had succeeded in bring- 
ing about a compromise, and the difficulty was adjusted. 

487. Bissell Attacked. — When Colonel Bissell was elected 
governor in 1857, the question naturally arose whether he 
could fill the governor's chair. Colonel Bissell and his friends 
said the interpretation of the constitution was that the par- 
ticipants should have taken part in a duel in the territory of 
Illinois, but that since he was in Washington, it did not apply 
to him. After his inauguration and when a motion was made 



A Student's History of Illinois. 425 

to print his message Bissell was violently attacked by his po- 
litical opponents. It fell to John A. Logan to make the bit- 
terest speech that was made. Not only on this occasion, but 
throughout Governor BisselFs term he was relentlessly pursued 
by the majority party in the house. The Democrats of the 
senate appear to have been less resentful. 

488. Normal School. — Without doubt the most important 
legislation of this session was the passage of the act creating 
the normal school at Normal. This act was approved Febru- 
ary 18, 1857. Another very creditable bit of legislation was 
the establishment of a second penitentiary in the northern part 
of the State at Joliet. 

The summer of 1858 witnessed another very exciting con- 
test between the Democratic and the Republican parties. Con- 
gressmen, members of the lower house of the legislature, a 
treasurer, and a superintendent of public instruction were to 
be elected. The legislature which would meeet in January, 
1859, would select a successor to Senator Stephen A. Douglas. 

489. Democratic Convention. — The campaign opened by 
the meeting of the Democratic State Convention in Spring- 
field, April 21. For treasurer, W. B. Fondey was nominated, 
while ex-Governor Augustus C. French was nominated for state 
superintendent of public instruction. This contention, while 
representing the Democratic party did not endorse Senator 
Douglas for re-election to that position. Since Buchanan had 
been president he and Douglas had had radically different 
views as to the admission of Kansas into the union, and as a 
result the federal administration was not willing to endorse 
Douglas for the senatorship and although the convention 
praised his course in congress, it failed formally to endorse 
his candidacy for a return to the senate. The federal office 
holders and a few anti-Douglas Democrats held a convention 
and nominated John Dougherty for treasurer, and ex-Governor 
John Reynolds for state superintendent of public instruction. 
This was called the National Democratic Party. It was also 



426 A Student's History of Illinois. 

called the Buchanan Democratic Party. It received a few 
more than 5,000 votes. 

490. Republican Convention. — The Republican convention 
met in Springfield on June 16, 1858. It re-nominated James 
Miller for treasurer and Newton Bateman for superintendent 
of schools. But this work was not the important work of the 
convention. For months before the meeting of the convention 
all eyes in the Republican party had been turned toward Lin- 
coin as the one who should contest the senatorship with Doug- 
las. The fact that Douglas had broken with the Buchanan 
administration was regarded by some in the east, especially 
Greely, of the New York Tribune, as a most favorable omen 
for the Republican party. These people said to the Republic- 
ans of Illinois, let Douglas return to the senate, he can be of 
more service there than could a Republican. In fact some 
seemed to think that because Douglas had opposed the admis- 
sion of Kansas with the Lecompton constitution, that he might 
eventually come into the Republican fold. This word, brought 
back by William Herndon, who had been sent east to gather 
up the consensus of opinion about Lincoln, was very discour- 
aging. 

But, however much the east might doubt the wisdom of 
Lincoln's contesting the election with Douglas, the Repub- 
licans of Illinois had no such misgivings. Cook county came 
to the Springfield convention with a banner which read Cook 
County for Abraham Lincoln. A down-state delegate pro- 
posed an amendment to the Cook county proposition. He 
proposed to substitute Illinois for Cook county and the 
amendment was passed unanimously. Lincoln was formally 
endorsed as the candidate of the Republican party for Senator 
Douglas' place in the United States senate. 

491. A House Divided. — Lincoln, knowing that he would 
likely be nominated or endorsed by this convention, prepared 
a carefully arranged statement of his views and of the line of 
argument he should use in the canvass. It is claimed by Mr. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 427 

Herndon, who was Lincoln's law partner, that Lincoln showed 
his speech to a number of his friends and they all, except Mr. 
Herndon, tried to dissuade Mr. Lincoln from expressing him- 
self so radically. But Lincoln insisted on giving the speech 
as he had prepared it. This is called the "House divided 
against itself speech." "A house divided against itself can 
not stand. I believe this government cannot endure perma- 
nently half-slave and half -free." 

492. Joint Discussion. — Senator Douglas returned to Chi- 
cago in July, from Washington. Lincoln knew Douglas would 
deliver a well-prepared speech, so he went to Chicago to hear 
the position Douglas would take in the public canvass. Doug- 
las spoke from the balcony of the Tremont House on one night 
and Lincoln answered him the following night. Vast throngs 
greeted the speakers. They both spoke in Springfield and it 
now became evident that a joint debate would be held. On 
July 24, Mr. Lincoln proposed to Mr. Douglas that they hold 
a series of joint discussions over the State. After some little 
maneuvering it was agreed to hold seven joint discussions — 
one in each congressional district except those in which they 
had already spoken jointly. The places agreed upon and the 
dates were as follows : 

Ottawa, La Salle county, August 21, 1858. 
Freeport, Stephenson county, August 27, 1858. 
Jonesboro, Union county, September 15, 1858. 
Charleston. Coles county, September 18, 1858. 
Galesburg, Knox county, October 7. 1858. 
Quincy, Adams county, October 13, 1858. 
Alton, Madison county, October 15, 1858. 

It should be understood that this joint discussion was held 
with the end in view that the masses of the people might hear 
the issues discussed and thus make up their minds as to how 
they ought to vote in the coming election at which members 
of the legislature were to be chosen. There were Douglas can- 



428 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



didates and Lincoln candidates in every district and every 
voter must choose his candidate. 

The newly elected members of the legislature together with 
the holdover senators must choose a United States senator at 
the opening of the legislature in 1859. 




Stephen A. Douglas. 



493. Squatter Sovereignty. — To understand the real sig- 
nificance of this contest it will be necessary to give attention 
to some questions that do not fall strictly within the limits of 
Illinois history. In the repeal of the Missouri Compromise 
it had been expressly stated in the bill itself, section 21. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 429 

"First. That all questions pertaining to slavery in the terri- 
tories, and in the new states to be formed therefrom, are to be 
left to the decisions of the people residing therein, through 
their appropriate representatives." This was the doctrine of 
"Squatter Sovereignty." 

Douglas was the champion of this doctrine, which meant 
that when a territory, as Kansas, forms a constitution by 
properly elected delegates, excluding slavery from the pro- 
posed State, and this constitution is ratified by the majority 
of the legally qualified voters of the territory, and congress 
admits the State with said constitution, the action of the peo- 
ple in that case is final. There can be no appeal. This doc- 
trine was a cardinal principle of the Democratic platform 
promulgated at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1856, when Buchanan 
was nominated for the presidency. And Mr. Buchanan, him- 
self, in his letter of acceptance announced "that the people 
of a territory, like those of a State, shall decide for them- 
selves whether slavery shall or shall not exist within their 
limit." 

494. Dred Scott Decision. — The Dred Scott case had been 
in the courts of Missouri and in the lower federal courts for 
three or four years prior to the presidential campaign of 1856. 
The case was brought before the supreme court in the spring 
of 1856 and argued. The court postponed further hearing in 
the matter till about the middle of December, when the case 
was re-argued. But no decision was rendered until two days 
after Buchanan was inaugurated. The court then rendered 
its decision confirming the lower court to the effect that Dred 
Scott was still a slave. It went further and stated that slaves, 
being property, could be taken into any territory and there 
held as slaves in spite of the wishes of people in that territory. 
This was a blow to Popular Sovereignty, for the repeal of the 
Missouri Compromise expressly stated, as quoted above, that 
the people of the territory had the right to exclude slavery or 
to establish it just as they pleased. 



430 A Student's History of Illinois. 

495a Questions. — Let us now return to the joint debate be- 
tween Lincoln and Douglas. In the first debate at Ottawa, 
Douglas asked Lincoln some questions which the latter did 
not answer, at least fully, till the joint meeting at Freeport. 
Lincoln then answered Douglas' eight questions, and in turn 
asked Douglas four, holding four in reserve. The second 
question asked by Lincoln was one which all of his friends 
said would lose him the senatorship. It is reported that at 
Mendota the night before the speech at Freeport the next day, 
after midnight, a large gathering of Lincoln's friends called 
on him at the hotel, and to them Lincoln read question num- 
ber two. They all with one accord told him it was the height 
of folly as it would certainly be at the cost of the senatorship. 
Lincoln is said to have responded : "Gentlemen, I am killing 
larger game ; if Douglas answers, he can never be president, 
and the battle of 1860 is worth a hundred of this.'' The 
question was: 

"No. 2. Can the people of a United States Territory in 
any lawful way, against the wish of any citizens of the United 
States, exclude slavery from its limits prior to the formation 
of a state constitution?" 

If Mr. Douglas wishes still to uphold the doctrine of 
Squatter Sovereignty he will be forced to say, "Yes." If he 
says, "No," then his doctrine of Squatter Sovereignty has burst 
as a bubble. If Douglas answers in the affirmative he runs 
counter to the decision of the supreme court which has so 
greatly delighted the slave holders of the south. If he says, 
"Yes," every pro-slavery southerner will be ready to read 
him out of the Democratic party. If he says, "No," he will 
lose the senatorship, for those that are pleading Douglas' 
cause argue that Douglas ought to be sustained because he 
stands for abiding by the will of the people as expressed in 
regularly constituted means for such expression. He had won 
many admirers, not only in Illinois but throughout the north, 
for refusing to endorse the action of the Lecompton Conven- 



A Student's History of Illinois. 431 

tion which shamefully disfranchised nearly 10,000 citizens of 
Kansas. In this stand he had lost the good will of Buchanan 
and as to the general feeling toward him in the south we shall 
see presently. 

496. Freeport Doctrine. — Douglas was truly midway be- 
tween two great dangers, but summoning all his native skill 
in the art of debate he answered : "I answer emphatically, as 
Mr. Lincoln has heard me answer a hundred times from every 
stump in Illinois, that, in my opinion the people of the terri- 
tory can by lawful means, exclude slavery from their limits 

prior to the formation of a State constitution The people 

have the lawful means to introduce it or exclude it, as they 
please, for the reason that slavery cannot exist a day, or an 
hour, anywhere, unless it is supported by local police regu- 
lation." 

497. Judah P. Benjamin. — This greatly angered the south ; 
and the press and the public speakers in that section de- 
nounced him in the severest terms. To get at something of the 
feelings of the people in the south toward Douglas for his 
answer to question number two, let us hear Senator Judah P. 
Benjamin, of Louisiana, in the United States senate, May 28, 
1860: 

"Up to the years of 1857 and 1858, no man in this nation had 
a higher or more exalted opinion of the character, the services, and 
the political integrity of the senator from Illinois (Douglas) than I 
had. . . .Sir. . . .1 have been obliged to pluck down my idol from his 
place on high, and to refuse him any more support or confidence as 
a member of the party .... 

The causes that have operated on me have operated on the Dem- 
ocratic party of the United States, and have operated an effect which 
the whole future life of the senator will be utterly unable to oblit- 
erate. It is impossible that confidence lost can be restored. . . . 

We accuse him for this, to-wit: That having bargained with us 
upon a point upon which we were an issue, that it should be a ju- 
dicial point; that he would abide the decision; that he would act 
under the decision, and consider it a doctrine of the party; that 
having said that to us here in the senate, he went home, and under 



432 A Student's History of Illinois. 

the stress of a local election, his knees gave way; his whole person 
trembled. His adversary stood upon principle and was beaten; and 
lo ! he is the candidate of a mighty party for the Presidency of the 
United States. The senator from Illinois faltered. He got the prize 
for which he faltered; but lo! the grand prize of his ambition to- 
day slips from his grasp because of his faltering in his former con- 
test, and his success in the canvass for the senate, purchased for an 
ignoble price, has cost him the loss of the presidency of the United 
States. 

This speech is no doubt a fair statement of the feeling of 
the south toward Douglas for his failure to stand up boldly 
for the decision of the supreme court. 

Mr. Lincoln and Senator Douglas held the seven joint 
discussions as arranged. Immense crowds appear to have 
been present everywhere except possibly at Jonesboro. The 
physical labor entailed in meeting these engagements was very 
great. Often the speakers had appointments in between the 
joint discussions, and in order to fill them they often had to 
travel part of the night, and often by stage or other incon- 
venient methods. 

498. The Final Result. — The contest came to a close on 
the 2d of November and resulted in the election of a majority 
of members of the legislature pledged to the support of Doug- 
las for senator. 

In the election of the treasurer and state superintendent 
of public instruction, the Republicans were successful. The 
legislature convened on January 3, 1859, and a few days later 
in joint session elected Douglas senator for six years from 
March 4, 1859. The ballot stood— Lincoln 46, and Douglas 54. 

The contest between Douglas and Lincoln had attracted 
the attention of the entire country, north and south, east and 
west. Mr. Lincoln was defeated but not cast down. It was 
only one short year till the national canvass would demand 
attention of the whole people. Lincoln wrote to a friend 
shortly after the November election as follows: "The fight 
must go on. The cause of civil liberty must not be surren- 
dered at the end of one or one hundred defeats. Douglas had 



A Student's History of Illinois. 433 

the ingenuity to be supported in the late contest, both as the 
best means to break down and to uphold the slave interest. 
No ingenuity can keep these antagonistic elements in har- 
mony long. Another explosion will soon come." 

Douglas naturally felt proud of his victory. After a short 
rest following the close of the campaign, he made a tour of 
the southern states; but nothing he could say or do could 
pacify the administration. Its friends were up in arms 
against what was called the "Freeport Doctrine." Douglas 
must feel the hand of the administration, and so he was de- 
posed from the chairmanship of the committee on territories 
which he had held for eleven years. 

499. Canal Scrip Fraud.— In the early part of January, 
1857, there were discovered evidences of extensive frauds hav- 
ing been committed upon the treasury of the State. It seems 
that in 1839 the trustees of the Illinois and Michigan canal 
had issued what was called "canal scrip" to the amount of 
nearly $400,000. This canal scrip was similar to bank notes 
and was issued in 50 and 100 dollar bills. It served the pur- 
pose of money till the regular bonds could be sold when with 
the cash thus received these canal scrip bills were to be re- 
deemed. 

They were all redeemed by 1842-3 excepting $316. But it 
appears that when this scrip was redeemed instead of being 
destroyed or canceled, the bills were packed away in boxes 
and finally found their way to the capitol in Springfield. Here 
they were stored away and probably forgotten. 

Governor Matteson was a rich man, and had been engaged 
previously to his election in taking contracts for the building 
of railroads, canals, and other public works. He also dealt 
in bonds and stocks. Now there seemed to have been an ar- 
rangement by which old canal bonds, scrip, etc., should be re- 
funded or be redeemed in cash. Just before Governor Matte- 
son went out of office he presented large quantities of these 
canal scrip bills for redemption. They were promptly re- 



434 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



deemed by the proper officers. Other large quantities were 
redeemed. So when the whole matter came to light it ap- 
peared that the governor had received about $250,000 from 
the treasury for this scrip. 




A One Hundred Dollar Canal Scrip Bill such as Governor Matteson cashed 
^hile governor of the state. 



Upon investigation the boxes which formerly contained 
the uncancelled scrip were empty — at least contained no un- 
cancelled scrip. The canal commissioners testified the scrip 
presented by Governor Matteson was the same scrip they had 
redeemed. Judgment was obtained against Governor Matte- 
son for over $250,000. His property was seized and sold, 
and altogether $238,000 was realized; it left an unpaid bal- 
ance due the State of $27,000. Governor Matteson went into 
retirement and passed the rest of his days in very great quiet. 
He died in 1873. It is said no one ever went out of office 
with brighter prospect before him than did Governor Matte- 
son, but this discovery blasted every prospect. 

500. Death of Governor Bissell. — Governor Bissell was al- 
most incapacitated for the duties of his office during most of 
his term. In the latter part of 1859 and first of 1860, he 
became greatly afflicted and died in office, March, 1860. Lieu- 
tenant Governor Wood assumed the duties of the office and 
served till succeeded by Richard Yates in January, 1861. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



435 




GOVERNOR JOHN WOOD, 

J860-J86J. 



CHAPTPER XLV. 



ANOTHER PIONEER GOVERNOR. 

501. An Early Settler. — John Wood, who became the 
chief executive upon the death of Governor Bissell, was the 
son of a Revolutionary soldier. He was born in New York in 
1798 and settled in Pike county in 1820. In 1822, he bought 
a quarter-section of land and upon it built the first house — a 
log cabin — in the future city of Quincy. He was instrumental 
in securing the organization of Pike county and was, for sixty 
years, identified with the history of our State. 



436 A Student's History of Illinois. 

In making up the Republican ticket in 1856 the Bloom- 
ington convention selected the candidate for governor, Wil- 
liam H. Bissell, from Belleville, while Francis A. Hoffman, 
of Chicago, was named for lieutenant governor. It was found 
that Francis Hoffman was ineligible to the office, since he 
had not been a citizen of the United States fourteen years. 
His name was thereupon replaced by that of John Wood, of 
Adams county. John Wood had served as a member of 
the legislature and was known over the state as a "large- 
hearted, enterprising pioneer." Governor Wood served as gov- 
ernor from March 18, 1860, to January 14, 1861, when Gov- 
ernor Yates was inaugurated. He very generously allowed 
the family of the late governor to remain in the executive 
mansion during the ten months he served as governor. 

Governor Wood acted as quartermaster general for the 
State during the earlier years of the Civil war, and in 1861 
raised the 137th regiment of Illinois troops — 100-day men — 
and saw active service in the south. During the executive 
term of Bissell and Wood, the public debt was reduced more 
than $3,000,000. 

Governor Wood died in Quincy, June 11, 1880, at the 
ripe age of eighty-two years. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 437 



CHAPTER XLVL 

ON THE EVE OF A GREAT CONFLICT. 

502. Presidential Possibilities. — The year 1860 was one 
which will long be remembered by those who were old enough 
to be aware of the significance of the events of that memorable 
year. It can be truly said that since the success of the Repub- 
lican party in 1856, that politics was the absorbing thing in 
the State. Everyone looked forward to the presidential con- 
test which was to take place in the summer and fall of 1860. 
In the west there was little doubt that Lincoln was the logical 
candidate of the Republican party. However, there were 
other men worthy of such honor. Salmon P. Chase, of Ohio, 
William A. Seward, of New York, and Simon Cameron, of 
Pennsylvania, were also considered presidential possibilities. 

503. Lincoln's Fame. — The great battle fought between 
Lincoln and Douglas had drawn all eyes toward Illinois and 
Abraham Lincoln. A Chicago editor wrote to Lincoln while 
the campaign was in progress in 1858, and said: "You are 
like Byron, who woke up one morning and found himself 
famous. People wish to know about you. You have sprung 
at once from the position of a capital fellow and a leading 
lawyer in Illinois, to a national reputation.'' David Davis, 
one of the great men in Illinois, wrote Lincoln in 1858, just 
after the final result became known and said: "You have 
made a noble canvass, which if unavailing in this State, has 
earned you a national reputation, and made you friends every- 
where/' 

The Republican central committee of New Hampshire sent 
word to Lincoln that if Douglas came into that State, to make 
a campaign, they would want Mr. Lincoln's services. Scores 



438 A Student's History of Illinois. 

of calls came from all parts of the country for Mr. Lincoln's 
help in the political campaign of 1859. Mr. Lincoln's most 
serious political work in 1859, was in the campaign in Ohio. 
The Democratic party had invited Douglas into that state, 
and as soon as this was known the Eepublican committee 
urged Mr. Lincoln to come to Ohio. This Mr. Lincoln did. 
He made two set speeches ; one at Columbus and one at Cin- 
cinnati. The burden of his speeches was the subject of slav- 
ery. He met with enthusiastic friends everywhere. The com- 
mittee thought so much of his influence in carrying Ohio that 
they arranged to print in cheap book form his debate with 
Douglas, together with the two speeches in Ohio, as campaign 
documents for the presidential canvass in 1860. 

504. Cooper Institute Address. — In the winter of 1859-60, 
Mr. Lincoln was invited to New York and Boston to make 
public addresses. He also visited many other points in the 
New England and the Middle States. These addresses were 
somewhat of the nature of lectures. Mr. Lincoln received pay, 
at least in New York and Boston, at the rate of $200 per night. 
In New York he spoke in Cooper Institute to one of the finest 
audiences which ever assembled in the city. William Cullen 
Bryant was chairman of the evening. The next morning the 
Tribune said : "Since the days of Clay and Webster no man 
has spoken to a larger assemblage of the intellect and mental 
culture in our city." This trip to the east was of great value 
to Mr. Lincoln when the coming canvass was under way. 

505. Lincoln's Friends. — All through the year of 1859 
there was a quiet, though effective, work going on in Illinois 
looking toward the securing of the Republican nomination for 
the presidency for Mr. Lincoln. Among those who were thus 
pushing the claims of Lincoln were David Davis, Leonard 
Swett, Judge Stephen T. Logan, John M. Palmer, Jesse W. 
Fell, John Wentworth, Joseph Medill, Norman B. Judcl, 
Richard Oglesby, and scores of others. County conventions, 
which were being held in the early spring of 1860, instructed 



A Student's History of Illinois. 439 

their delegates to the State convention to work for the nom- 
ination of Lincoln. In the winter of '59 and '60, Joseph Me- 
dill, editor of the Chicago Tribune was in Washington, trying 
quietly to work up a Lincoln sentiment, and on February 16, 
1860, The Tribune came out editorially for Lincoln. 

But in a list of twenty-one persons mentioned for the 
presidency published in New York in the winter of '59 and 
'60, Lincoln's name does not appear. There was scarcely a 
paper in the east that ever mentioned his name as a probable 
candidate. 

506. State Convention. — The State Republican Conven- 
tion met in Decatur May 9 and 10. Here Lincoln received an 
ovation. John M. Palmer moved that, "Abraham Lincoln is 
the choice of the Republican party of Illinois for the presi- 
dency, and the delegates from this State are instructed to use 
all honorable means to secure his nomination by the Chicago 
convention, and to vote as a unit for him." At this conven- 
tion Richard Yates was nominated for governor and a full 
ticket put into the field. 

507. Freeport Doctrine Again. — We have already spoken 
of Douglas' trip through the southern states following the 
campaign of 1858. He spoke in all the large cities in the 
south. He was received with marked courtesy and listened 
to with growing interest. In early January, 1859, Douglas 
arrived at the capitol and took his seat in the senate. He was 
soon made aware of the fact .that the southern senators had 
deposed him from the leadership of his party or at least the 
southern half of it. They demanded of him what he would 
do if according to his "Freeport Doctrine" the territorial legis- 
lature should legislate so unfriendly as to exclude slavery. 
They pressed him so closely and made such demands that he 
said to them: "I tell you, gentleman of the south, in all can- 
dor, I do not believe a Democratic candidate can carry any 
one Democratic state of the north on the platform that it 



440 A Student's History of Illinois. 

is the duty of the federal government to force the people of a 
territory to have slavery when they do not want it." 

Here, in the closing days of the session an irreparable 
schism was opened between the slaveholding Democracy of the 
south and the Squatter Sovereignty Democracy of the north. 
In June, 1859, Douglas, in answer to a question as to whether 
he would be a candidate for the presidency replied that if the 
Democracy adhere to its former principles his friends would 
be at liberty to present his name. On the contrary he said, 
if the convention shall insist on the revival of the slave-trade, 
or hold that congress has a right to pass a slave code for the 
territories, or that the constitution of the United States either 
establishes or prohibits slavery in the territories beyond the 
power of the people legally to control it, then he could not ac- 
cept the nomination if tendered to him. 

508. National Republican Convention. — The National Re- 
publican Convention met in a wigwam in Chicago, May 16, 
1860. Strong delegations were present from the eastern 
states to whom the western methods of campaigning may have 
been a little new. A committee of one from each State and 
territory was appointed on the committee on resolution which 
reported a very conservative set of resolutions as the platform 
of the party. The following is an abridgment of that docu- 
ment : 

The past four years have justified the organization of the Repub- 
lican party. The causes which called it into existence are perma- 
nent. 

The principle of equality, stated in the Declaration of Independ- 
ence, is essential to the preservation of our Republican institutions. 

The wonderful development of the nation is the result of the 
union of the states. 

The lawless invasion of any state or territory by armed force is 
among the gravest of crimes. 

The dogma that the constitution carries slavery into the Terri- 
tories is a dangerous political heresy. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



441 



We deny the right of congress, or of any territorial legislature, 
or of any individuals, to legalize slavery in any territory of the 
United States. 

The recent re-opening of the African save trade is a crime against 
humanity. 

Kansas should of right be admitted as a state under the consti- 
tution recently formed. 

The party favors a protective tariff. 

The party favors liberal homestead laws. 

Pledges efficient protection to all classes of citizens. 

All citizens who can unite on this platform of principles are in- 
vited to give it their support. 

509. The Balloting.— On the first ballot Seward had 132J, 
Lincoln 102, Cameron 50|, Bates 48, Chase 49, scattering 42. 




Courtesy of H. W. Fay, DeKalb, I 



Chicago Wigwam in which Lincoln received his Nomination for the Presidency 
in 1860, 

Lincoln's friends felt greatly encouraged. The second ballot 
resulted, Seward 184J, Lincoln 181, Bates 35, Chase 42-J, 
scattering: 22. On the third ballot Seward stood 183, Lincoln 
231 J, Bates 22, Chase 24J, scattering 7. The total number of 
delegates was 466, a majority of which would be 234. Lin- 



442 A Student's History of Illinois. 

coin lacked only 2J votes of the nomination. The Ohio dele- 
gates changed four votes to Lincoln from Chase, and Lincoln 
was nominated. With him was nominated Hanihal Hamlin, 
of Maine, for vice president. Mr. Lincoln was notified of his 
nomination immediately, and the greatest problem he had ever 
faced was now before him — that of harmonizing all of the 
forces which were eventually to bring about his election. 

510. The Charleston Convention. — The National Demo- 
cratic convention met at Charleston, South Carolina, April 
23, 1860. It was known long before that day that there would 
be a wide difference of opinion on the subject of slavery in the 
convention. Upon the completion of the permanent organiza- 
tion, the committee on resolutions was named. On the 27th, 
Mr. Avery, of North Carolina, from the majority of the com- 
mittee on platform reported (in part) as follows: 

Resolved, That the National Democracy of the United States hold 
these cardinal principles on the subject of slavery in the territories; 
— 1st. That congress has no power to abolish slavery in the territo- 
ries ; 2d. That the territorial legislature has no power to abolish 
slavery in the territory, nor to prohibit the introduction of slaves 
therein, nor any power to destroy or impair the right of property 
in slaves by any legislation whatever. 

This was a part of the majority report. Mr. Henry B. 
Payne, of Ohio, presented the minority report which affirmed 
the platform of 1856, but added: "Resolved, (2) That the 
Democratic party will abide by the decision of the supreme 
court of the United States on the question of constitutional 
law." 

Mr. Avery, in commenting upon the situation, said : "I 
say that the results and ultimate consequences to the southern 
states of this confederacy, if the Popular Sovereignty doctrine 
be adopted as the doctrine of the Democratic party, would be 
as dangerous and subversive of their rights as the adoption 
of the principle of congressional intervention or provision." 
In this Mr. Avery meant to say that the Republican doctrine 



A Student's History of Illinois. 443 

would be as acceptable to the south as the Squatter Sovereignty 
doctrine. 

A vote was taken on the platform as reported by Mr. Avery 
and the one reported by Mr. Payne, both of which had been 
somewhat modified. 

Mr. Payne's report was adopted by a vote of 165 to 138. 
Thereupon Alabama gave notice of her intention to withdraw 
from the convention. Other states followed. The seceding 
members held a meeting and adjourned to Richmond. The 
Douglas contingent balloted several times for President, but 
not making a choice adjourned to Baltimore. Here in June, 
Douglas was nominated for the presidency. 

The canvass was encouraging to Lincoln's friends from 
the start. The opposition was divided ; the Republicans were 
enthusiastic from the beginning. The twenty-four states 
which took part in the Chicago convention had 234 electoral 
votes out of the total of 303. Fremont, in 1856, had carried 
114 electoral votes and to these the Republicans, in their 
estimate, added the votes of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, In- 
diana, and Illinois, making 169, a wide margin over the 
needed majority of 152. 

511. The Campaign. — A very dramatic feature of the cam- 
paign was the use of many things illustrative of Lincoln's life. 
Rails, mauls, axes, and log cabins were signs of his boyhood 
days. 'Tis true the east was greatly disappointed when Lin- 
coln received the nomination. They said he was without 
schooling, was uncultured, and would be a "nullity" if elected. 
But while all manner of uncomplimentary things were being 
said about Lincoln, the great men who contended with him 
for the nomination were logically standing by the candidate. 
Such men as Sumner, Seward, Chase, Clay, Greely, and many 
others of that kind of people took the stump for Lincoln. 

512. Lincoln Elected. — The election came off the 6th of 
November. Out of the total of 303 electoral votes, Lincoln 
received 180. But there were fifteen states that did not give 



444 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



Both 
legislature 



him an electoral vote, and in ten states he did not receive a 
single popular vote. Lincoln received in Illinois 172,161 votes; 
Douglas, 160,215; Bell, 4,913; Breckenridge, 2,404. Yates 
was elected governor over Allen, the Democratic candidate, by 
some 13,000 votes. 

houses of the 
were repub- 
lican. 

The legislature met 
Monday, January 7, 
1861, and organized by 
electing Shelby M. Cul- 
lom speaker of the lower 
house. This was the first 
time that the Democrats 
did not control one or 
both branches of the 
legislature. Governor 

Wood, the retiring exec- 
utive, reported that the 
State debt had decreased 
during the four years 
preceding nearly $3,000,- 
000. On the 14th of 
January Richard Yates was inaugurated governor for four 
years. His inaugural address was a vigorous statement of the 
views of the Republican party relative to the preservation of 
the union. After the election of Lyman Trumball, United 
States Senator, and the passage of a few bills, the legislature 
adjourned. 




Hon. Wm. Pitt Kellogg. 

The only living member of the Electoral College 
for Illinois in J 860. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



445 



CHAPTER XLVIL 



A SON OF ILLINOIS. 

513. Birth and Youth. — Abraham Lincoln was born three 
miles from Hodgensville, in La Rue county, Kentucky, Feb- 
ruary 12, 1809. His father's name was Thomas and his 

mother's maiden name 
was Nancy Hanks. It 
has often been stated that 
Lincoln's parents were 
poor. Perhaps they were; 
so were many other fam- 
ilies in Kentucky. When 
he was about four years 
old his parents moved to 
Knob Creek, sixteen 
miles away from his 
birthplace. Here he be- 
gan his education, but 
evidently he did not make 
a business of going to 
school. Mr. Lincoln says 
he thinks six months 
would cover all the time 
he ever went to school. 

514. Moves to Indi- 
ana. — In 1816, Thomas 
Lincoln moved to a farm one and one-half miles east of Gentry- 
ville, Spencer county, Indiana. Abraham was now seven years 




Courtesy and permission of McClure. Phillips & Co. 
From Ida M. Tarbell's "Life of Lincoln." Copy- 
right 1900. 

Abraham Lincoln. 



446 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



old. The home is described as a "half-face camp." The fur- 
nishings were very meager. Wild game was plentiful in the 
thick woods about them. It has been said that Thomas Lin- 




Courtesy and permission of McClure, Phillips & Co. From Ida M. Tarbell's 
"Lite of Lincoln." Copyright 1900. 



Lincoln's Birthplace. 



coin neglected his wife and children while here. Abraham 
says that these were "pretty pinching times." Abraham's 
mother died in 1818, and then no doubt the Lincoln home 
was desolate indeed. 

In 1819; Thomas Lincoln returned to Kentucky and mar- 
ried Sally Bush Johnston, a widow with three children. Mrs. 
Johnston and Thomas had been lovers in their younger days. 
The new mother brought quite a few comforts to the forlorn 
home in Indiana. 

In 1828 Abraham took a flat boat to New Orleans for a 
Mr. Gentry. The cargo was disposed of to the satisfaction 
of the owner thereof. He returned to Gentryville to find that 
the Lincoln family had the western fever. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 447 

515. Moves to Illinois.— In 1830 the Lincoln family moved 
to Illinois and settled near Decatur, some ten miles west. 
Here is where Lincoln made the historic rails. 

The Lincolns fenced ten acres of ground, broke it, and 
planted it in corn. Lincoln was twenty-one years old Febru- 
ary 12, 1830, and this was the last work he helped his 
father do. 




Courtesy and permission of McClure, Phillips & Co. From Ida M. Tarbell's 
"Life of Lincoln." Copyright 1900. 

The Home of Lincoln's Parents near Charleston, Coles County, 111. 

516. Trip to New Orleans.— In the winter of "the deep 
snow," Lincoln with others engaged to take a flat boat to 
New Orleans. Lincoln helped to build the boat at Sangamon 
town (New Salem), and the trip was made to New Orleans in 
the spring of 1831. It was while in the city of New Orleans 
that he saw a mulatto girl offered for sale from the auction 
block in a slave market. The conduct of the auctioneer and 
the bidders was so revolting that Lincoln is said to have re- 
marked to his companions, John Hanks and John D. John- 



448 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



ston, "Boys, let's get away from this. If I ever get a chance 
to hit that thing (slavery), I will hit it hard." 

517. Store Keeper. — On his return he engaged to keep 
store in New Salem for Denton Offutt. This may have been 




Courtesy and permission of McClure, Phillips & Co. From Ida M. Tarbell's 
"Life of Lincoln." Copyright 1900. 



Lincoln's Store in New Salem. 



in the fall of 1831. Here Lincoln spent the next few years 
of his life. It was indeed a strenuous one. He studied, read, 
wrestled, and courted. Some attention was given to the study 
of English grammar. In 1833 he offered himself as a can- 
didate for the legislature. He had hardly announced himself, 
when in April, 1832, word came to New Salem of the call for 
troops to go to the Black Hawk war. 

518. A Soldier. — Abraham Lincoln was captain of one of 
the four companies which constituted the fourth regiment. 
When the army was mustered out, May 27, 1832, Lincoln re- 



A Student's History of Illinois. 449 

enlisted as a private in Captain lies' company for twenty days. 
When his time was up for this enlistment, he re-enlisted in 
Capt. Jacob M. Early's company. He moved with the army 
up Rock river to the Wisconsin line, but later returned to 
Dixon where he was mustered out. He and a companion 
walked across country to Ottawa, came to Havana in a canoe, 
and walked to New Salem. He was defeated in the fall of 
1832 for the legislature, but was elected the fall of 1834. 

519. As a Legislator. — He served in the legislature from 
December, 1834, to December, 1842. He represented the 
Springfield district in congress from December, 1847-1849. 
In 1855 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the United 
States senate. In 1856 he was active in the campaign in 
which Bissell was a candidate for governor. This brings us 
to the organization of the Republican party and his career has 
been briefly sketched from that time to his election to the pres- 
idency. Lincoln remained in Springfield during the canvass 
of 1860. He received many distinguished visitors during the 
summer as well as during the winter following the election. 
Three things especially occupied his mind during the winter 
of 1860-1. One was getting acquainted with the men with 
whom he must be associated in the work of carrying on the 
government. Another was the problem of selecting his cabi- 
net — a task of no small proportion. A third thing was form- 
ulating his inaugural address. There was one thing which 
was a great annoyance in these swiftly passing days; it was 
the spread of the secession movement. His mail was extra- 
ordinarily heavy. All sorts of suggestions were pouring in on 
►him and all sorts of inquiries. 

As the time approached for his departure for Washington, 
he settled up all his private business affairs. One of the most 
significant incidents of the closing days of his life as a pri- 
vate citizen was his visit to his step-mother, who lived in Coles 
county — near Charleston. He spent a day with her, and, ac- 
companied by her, he visited the grave of his father. Mr. 



450 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



Lincoln loved his step-mother very tenderly and it must in- 
deed have been very touching to see this sad parting, for his 




Courtesy and permission of McClure, Phillips & Co, From Ida M. Tarbell's 
"Life of Lincoln." Copyright 1900. 



Lincoln's Step-mother, Sarah Bush Lincoln. 



mother told him she never expected to see him again. She 
was now seventy-three years old. She died December 10, 1869. 
520. Secession. — The ballots of a free people, freely cast, 
had declared that Abraham Lincoln should serve the whole 
people in the exalted station of President of the United States. 
No election had ever been freer from undefined or undefin- 
able issues. There could be no doubt as to where at least 
three of the candidates stood upon every issue which entered 



A Student's History of Illinois. 451 

into the campaign. But no sooner was the result definitely 
known than steps were taken which looked to the ultimate dis- 
solution of the union. In fact long before the election in No- 
vember there was a movement in the south favoring secession 
in the event of Mr. Lincoln's election. 

The rapid growth of the idea of secession, between Novem- 
ber 6, I860, and the 4th of March, 1861, is well known, and 
it need not here be described. The seceded states had formed, 
a government, and by the time Lincoln was inaugurated nearly 
all semblance of national authority in the south had been 
swept away. 

521. In Washington. — The winter of 1860-1 in the na- 
tional capital, witnessed some very strange proceedings. The 
representatives and senators from the secession states were, 
day after day, resigning their positions in the federal con- 
gress, and they invariably took occasion to deliver very bitter 
farewells before retiring. Patriotic men were doing their best 
to bring about some sort of a compromise which would restore 
harmony to the distracted country. All sorts of rumors were 
afloat, and the public mind was strung to the highest tension. 
Stephen A. Douglas had no sympathy with secession. He took 
a very decided stand on behalf of the preservation of the 
union. 

522. Farewell. — Lincoln left Springfield for Washington, 
February 11, 1861. To a great concourse of friends and neigh- 
bors who had gathered about the station he addressed a very 
touching farewell. He said : 

My friends, no one, not in my situation, can appreciate my feel- 
ing of sadness at this parting. To this place, and the kindness of 
these people, I owe everything. Here I have lived a quarter of a 
century, and have passed from a young to an old man. Here my chil- 
dren have been born and one is buried. I now leave, not knowing 
when or whether ever I may return, with a task before me greater 
than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance 
of that Divine Being who ever attended him. I cannot succeed. With 
that assistance I cannot fail. Trusting in Him who can go with 



452 A Student's History of Illinois. 

me, and remain with you, and be everywhere for good, let us con- 
fidently hope that all will yet be well. To His care commending 
you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I bid you an 
affectionate farewell. 

523. En Route. — Mr. Lincoln made short speeches in some 
of the cities through which he passed on his way to Washing- 
ton. In Philadelphia word was received that an attack would 
be made upon his life in Baltimore. This caused a change in 
the programme in the rest of his journey. He reached Wash- 
ington safely, on the morning of the 4th of March, 1861, and 
was ready for the inaugural exercises. 

524. Inaugurated. — Shortly before noon the retiring 
President, Mr. Buchanan, called for Mr. Lincoln and escorted 
him to the senate chamber. From here they passed out upon 
a large platform erected upon the east side of the capitol 
where he delivered his inaugural in the presence of senators ; 
representatives, judges, foreign ministers, and other public 
dignitaries. 

When the distinguished party came upon the platform and 
were seated, Senator Edward Baker, arose and introduced Mr. 
Lincoln, and as he came forward a few steps with his cane in 
his hand, together with his manuscript and his tall silk hat, 
he was embarrassed for want of a place to put his hat. Just 
then Senator Douglas saw the embarassment, stepped for- 
ward and took the President's hat, and stepping back and hold- 
ing it in his hand, said to a cousin of Mrs. Lincoln, "If I can't 
be president, I can at least hold his hat." 

The inaugural speech was a very clear statement of what 
he saw as his duty as the chief magistrate of the nation. He 
was especially anxious to have his hearers understand that he 
had been nominated and elected by people who had full knowl- 
edge of the fact that one of his fundamental doctrines was 
that, "I have no purpose, directly or indirectly to interfere 
with the institution of slavery in the states where it exists. 
I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no in- 



A Student's History of Illinois. 453 

clination to do so." He also read from the Chicago platform 
that, "The right of each state to order and control its own 
domestic institution according to its own judgment exclusively, 
is essential to that balance of power on which the perfection 
and endurance of our political fabric depends." He was also 
careful to let it be known that he regarded, "The union as 
unbroken; and to the extent of my ability, I shall take care, 
as the constitution expressly enjoins upon me, that the laws 
of the union be faithfully executed in all the states." Just 
near the close, as he was addressing his "dissatisfied country- 
men," he showed them wherein he had the advantage of them. 
"You have no oath registered in heaven to destroy the govern- 
ment, while I have the most solemn one to preserve, protect, 
and defend it." 

525. Fort Sumter.— On the 12th of April, Gen. G. T. Beau- 
regard, under the direction of the authority of South Caro- 
lina, commenced a bombardment of Fort Sumter. This was 
on Friday. On Sunday morning, General Anderson surren- 
dered, and marched out with the honors of war. Monday 
morning, the 15th, President Lincoln issued a call for 75,000 
men. The news of the insult to the flag of the nation and to 
its brave defenders, flashed over the loyal states with wonder- 
ful rapidity, and nowhere was more patriotic enthusiasm 
aroused than in the Prairie State. 

Within a few days, on April 18, after the fall of Sumter, 
Stephen A. Douglas called on President Lincoln and assured 
him of his heartiest support, and on the 25th of April he was 
in Springfield, and here upon invitation of the legislature 
which had met in special session he addressed that body. The 
speech of April 25 was a vigorous arraignment of secession 
and a patriotic appeal to all to defend the constitution and 
the flag. From here Douglas went to Chicago, where he spoke 
in a similar strain in the "wigwam." where Lincoln was nom- 
inated. Douglas was taken sick almost immediately after 
this "wigwam" speech and was confined to his room in the 



454 A Student's History of Illinois. 

Tremont House, where he died the 3d of June, 1861. It was 
very unfortunate for the cause of the Union that Douglas died 
so early in the great struggle. Had he lived he would surely 
have been a valuable friend of President Lincoln. He had 
no sympathy with secession. 



•&£$ ***•!+**? pat*-**-, *sr* '***+. 

fi^Qty; ,**£> 6****ff^- '<*&**&*. J 1 *^ 



£4*€ a* 



/2y£&»*,p 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



455 




Courtesy and permission of the 
McLean County, 111. Historical Society. 



GOVERNOR RICHARD YATES, St. 

J86J — J865. 



CHAPTER XLVIII. 



GOVERNOR RICHARD YATES— ILLINOIS IN THE 
CIVIL WAR. 

526. Yates Inaugurated. — Richard Yates was inaugurated 
governor on the 14th of January, 1861. His inaugural was 
full of earnest words relative to the duty of every patriot. 
Touching upon the subject of compromise he said : 

As to compromise, if it means that we must outrage the senti- 
ment of the civilized world by conceding that slavery is a blessing — ■ 
that we must love and praise it; that we may not hope for its ulti- 



456 A Student's History of Illinois. 

mate extinction, that it may go into the free territories, under the 
protection of the constitution — if these are the grounds upon which 
the difficulties are to be settled, then they never will be settled. 
Plainness and truth require us to say that the only pacification to 
which the people of this State could accede would be upon the 
principles upon which Mr. Lincoln was elected; that the consti- 
tution must be obeyed, as it is; all its provisions in force, accord- 
ing to a fair and honest interpretation of its meaning. .. .In such 
an event as this ( the employment of force ) , I hesitate not to say that 
the general assembly, without a dissenting voice, and the people of 
Illinois, would unanimously pledge the men and means of the State 
to uphold the constitution and preserve the union. 

527. Legislation.— Some of the acts passed by this legis- 
lature were : To encourage mining ; to foster public schools ; 
to provide for discharging the State debt ; to prevent illegal 
voting, and to call a convention to amend or revise the State 
constitution. A resolution touching the proposed amending 
of the constitution of the United States declared : 

That until the people of these United States shall otherwise di- 
rect, the present Federal Union must be preserved as it is, and the 
present constitution and laws must be administered as they are; 
and, to this end, in conformity with the constitution and the laws, 
the whole resources of the State of Illinois are hereby pledged to the 
Federal authorities. 

528. The Flag Fired Upon. — The military movements of 
the south were as rapid and dramatic as had been the political 
events in the national capital. Forts, arsenals, and munitions 
passed rapidly from the control of the national government 
to that of the seceded states. On the 12th of April, the se- 
cessionists opened fire on Fort Sumter. The morning of the 
14th, Major Anderson marched out of the fort, and the flag 
of South Carolina was run up. 



Note. — In following the events of the Civil War it is not the 
purpose to give anything like a connected account of the military 
operations; but to discover as nearly as we may Illinois' part in 
the war, and the effect of the war upon Illinois. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 457 

On Monday morning, April 15, 1861, President Lincoln 
issued a call for 75,000 volunteers for three months, iw in order 
to suppress said combination and to cause the laws to be duly 
executed/' All loyal citizens were called upon to aid "this 
effort to maintain the honor, integrity and the existence of 
our National Union/' 

529. Extra Session of the legislature. — The regular ses- 
sion of the legislature had just recently adjourned when Fort 
Sumter was fired on. On the 15th of April, Governor Yates 
was notified by the secretary of war of the call for troops. He 
immediately issued a call for an extra session of the legisla- 
ture to meet on the 23d. 

The special session which Governor Yates had called was 
in session but ten days. It had been called to "perfect the 
organization and equipment of the militia of the State and 
placing the same on the best footing to render assistance to 
the general government in preserving the union, enforcing 
the laws, and protecting the property and rights of the people." 

530. Call for Troops. — Illinois was asked to raise six regi- 
ments for the suppression of the rebellion in certain states. 
There was activity in every town and hamlet. 

Everywhere the flag was flung to the breeze as the na- 
tional emblem. Now developed a feature of the war which is 
not always well understood. I T p to this time the whole popu- 
lation, with the exception of a very few people, was divided 
into Eepublicans and Douglas Democrats. There had been a 
strong sympathy between the Douglas Democrats and the 
Southern Democrats, and almost as strong a hatred for the 
Eepublicans. The Eepublicans were called "black abolition- 
ists/' Douglas himself persisted in calling Lincoln's friends 
the Black Eepublicans in the debates of 1858. But when the 
flag was fired on Democrats and Eepublicans forgot any dif- 
ferences which they may have had and rallied to the defense 
of the flag. 



458 A Student's History of Illinois. 

On the 19th of April, the secretary of war telegraphed to 
Governor Yates to occupy Cairo as a precaution. By the 21st 
General Swift, of Chicago, had on the way to Cairo, four pieces 
of artillery and six companies of soldiers, and by the 22d, 
three more companies were en route. The six regiments were 
made into the first brigade of Illinois. Gen. Benjamin Pren- 
tiss was put in command and proceeded to Cairo and took 
command at that point. Other calls came for troops and by 
the end of the year there were in the camps and in the field 
nearly 70,000 Illinois soldiers. 




Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. 

531. The Silent Man. — Sometime in the latter part of 
April or the first part of May, there came from Galena to 
Springfield a company of soldiers who offered their services 
and were eventually put into the eleventh regiment. Along 
with this company there came the silent man — Ulysses S. 
Grant. He remained in Springfield till the Galena boys were 



A Student's History of Illinois. 459 

properly located and was about to depart when Governor Yates 
invited him to assist the adjutant general in his duties. 
Through the early summer he mustered in regiments and did 
other service. The governor appointed Grant colonel of the 
21st regiment. This regiment was enlisted and mustered at 
Mattoon June 15, but later came to Springfield. Grant was 
ordered, with his regiment, to Quincy. But on the march to 
that point orders changed his destination and he went into 
eastern Missouri, where he remained without special incident 
till he was made a brigadier general, August 23. On Sep- 
tember 4, Grant took up his headquarters in Cairo and relieved 
Col. Eichard Oglesby. Within a few days he had occupied 
Paducah and Smithland. Grant, now in command of an expe- 
dition of two gunboats, and four steamers carrying 3,000 men, 
together with two guns and two companies of cavalry, pro- 
ceeded down the Mississippi to the town of Belmont opposite 
Columbus, Kentucky. Here on the 7th of November he broke 
up a large camp of confederates, captured and destroyed large 
quantities of stores. But the enemy being heavily reinforced 
from Columbus, were able to drive Grant to his boats with a 
loss of 485 in killed, wounded, and missing. Grant returned 
to Cairo, where he remained till the expedition was sent up the 
Tennessee in February, 1862. 

532. Call for a Convention. — In the session of the legis- 
lature beginning in January, 1859, a joint resolution pre- 
vailed which provided for a vote to be taken at the regular 
election in the fall of 1860, on whether the people were favor- 
able to calling a constitutional convention for revising or 
amending the constitution of the State. There were some rea- 
sons why the constitution should be revised. Population had 
doubled since the forming of the constitution of 1848. It was 
claimed that the constitution of 1848 was framed at a period 
when the times were hard, and that the State officers could not 
live upon the salaries named in that document. The pay of 
the governor was $1,500 per annum. Secretary of state $800 



460 A Student's History of Illinois. 

per annum. Auditor of public accounts $1,000. These 
amounts were too low to permit any sort of stylish living in 
the capital city. There was another serious defect in the con- 
stitution of 1848, which was that it permitted the passage of 
private laws much to the detriment of the public weal. 

At the election in 1860 the vote in favor of the constitu- 
tion carried by a very satisfactory majority. In the legisla- 
ture of 1861 an election was ordered to be held for the selec- 
tion of delegates to a constitutional convention. The election 
was to occur at the regular time in November, 1861. The 
number of delegates to the convention was to be seventy-five 
— one delegate for each representative in the lower house of 
the legislature. When the delegates assembled in convention, 
it was found there were forty-five Democrats, twenty-one Re- 
publicans, seven Fusionists, and two doubtful. The Democrats 
had a clear majority and it was not long till the conduct of 
the convention was such as seriously to embarrass the State 
administration which at this time was strongly Republican. 
The convention refused to take the oath which the law calling 
the convention prescribed, the claim being made that the con- 
vention had been clothed with powers to which those of the 
regularly constituted officers were secondary. The convention 
proceeded to appoint committees to investigate the conduct 
of the executive department in relation to the equipping of 
the Illinois soldiers in the field. In many other ways the 
spirit of the convention was shown to be destructive rather 
than constructive. 

By the 22d of March, the convention was ready for final 
adjournment. Of the seventv-five delegates only forty-eight 
members were present when the final vote was taken, which 
stood forty-four for. and four against; however, the consti- 
tution as framed was authenticated by fifty-four of the 
members. 

When the document went before the people there accom- 
panied it five other questions for the adoption or rejection of 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



461 



the people. The one of special interest was an article which 
prohibited free negroes and mulattoes from settling in the 
State. The constitution as a whole was defeated by a major- 
ity of over 16,000; while the provision prohibiting negroes 
settling in the State carried by more than a hundred thous- 
and majority. 




Grant's Home in Galena in 1861. 



533. Pittsburg landing. — The early days in February, 
1862, found Grant making preparations for the first real steps 
toward the opening of the Mississippi river. With a very 
large army on transports accompanied by numerous vessels 
of the gunboat class. Grant proceeded to the reduction of 
Forts Henry and Donelson. He later concentrated his troops 
on the Tennessee where on the morning of the sixth of April, 
1862, was begun the battle of Pittsburg Landing which lasted 
two days. 



462 A Student's History of Illinois. 

Illinois had appropriated and expended up to the end of 
1862, nearly a half million dollars in enlisting, equipping, 
and providing for the relief and comfort of her volunteers in 
the army. Governor Yates was especially active in the work 
of caring for our own boys in the field. When the battle of 
Pittsburg Landing began on Sunday morning, the 6th of 
April, the governor was tendered a steamboat by the Chicago, 
Burlington and Quincy Railroad Company. The boat was 
quickly provisioned, and with an excellent medical staff under 
the direction of an eminent surgeon, Doctor Daniel Brainard, 
president of Rush Medical College, Chicago, the vessel quickly 
reached Cairo. Here it was detained by reason of military 
regulations, but was soon on its way. The cargo was not all 
sight-seers. There were doctors, nurses, helpers, boxes of 
dainty food, packages of bandages and lint, stretchers, medi- 
cine, and everything which could minister to the relief of 
those in distress. 

534. Yates at Shiloh. — When the vessel reached the little 
town of Savannah, Grant's headquarters, some five or six 
miles below the battlefield, the little town of some few scores 
of homes was full of wounded, sick, dying, and dead soldiers. 
Here Governor Yates stopped, and surgeons, doctors, and 
nurses went to work. 

In a day or so the governor visited the scene of the battle. 
Here he was visited by the Illinois officers and even by com- 
manders and officers from other states. Governor Yates, as 
has been said, was thoughtful for the welfare of his soldiers. 
He had filled out quite a number of commissions before leav- 
ing Springfield, and several brave sons of Illinois who came 
to pay their respects to their beloved governor were "knighted" 
then and there by receiving commissions of higher rank in the 
service of their country. After a day or so spent at the bat- 
tlefield the boat returned to Savannah, where it was loaded 
with nearly 1,000 wounded soldiers. Every wounded boy 
was anxious to come home. Col. Clark E. Carr, now of Gales- 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



463 



burg, says one poor boy was afraid he would not get to come 
home, and when assured that Governor Yates would come for 
him he said : 

"Does the governor say he will come after us ?" 

"He does/' said Colonel Carr. 

"Then he will come. Dick Yates never broke his word to 
a soldier." 




The Building used as a Hospital in Mound City, to which were brought the Wounded 
Soldiers from the Battlefield of Pittsburg Landing* 



The boat, the Black Hawk, which had gone on this mis- 
sion of mercy, unloaded a portion of its precious freight at 
Mound City, where preparations had been made by converting 
an immense warehouse into a hospital. Here were nurses, 
doctors, and friends ready to minister to the brave boys from 
Illinois. Those soldiers who were slightly wounded were 
given passes over the railroads to their homes in the various 
parts of the State. 



464 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



535. Emancipation. — The campaigns of 1862 dragged 
wearily along. The political situation was becoming more 
and more serious to the friends of the government. From 
the beginning of the war there were those who strongly urged 




Reading the Emancipation Proclamation. 



the emancipation of the slaves. From all parts of the coun- 
try came resolutions and appeals to Lincoln to take this im- 
portant step. By the middle of 1862 he had begun to think 
seriously of exercising his powers as commander-in-chief and 
thus cripple the confederacy by freeing the slaves. In a cabi- 
net meeting of July 22, 1862, it was decided not to issue such 
a proclamation for the present, at least not until after a vic- 
tory by the union forces. On September 22. the cabinet was 
called together and the draft of the Emancipation Proclama- 
tion read. After some discussion it was signed, sealed, and 



A Student's History of Illinois. 465 

placed in the archives of the government. On the morning 
of September 23, it was printed in all the leading newspapers 
of the land. 

The summer months of 1862 revealed the great need of 
additional soldiers in the field and during July and August 
600,000 additional troops were asked for. Of this large num- 
ber, Illinois was to furnish 52,000. She had already furnished 
more than her quota, but the government was insistent and 
Illinois must furnish the 52,000 men. The governor imme- 
diately set to work to comply with the demands of the gen- 
eral government. In an incredibly short time not only the 
52,000, but over 68,000 troops were tendered. Thus by the 
end of 1862 Illinois had organized and sent to the country's 
service 131 regiments of infantry, 13 regiments of cavalry, 
besides artillery and other arms of the service. 

The Emancipation Proclamation was condemned by the 
anti-war party, while the stanchest friends of the adminis- 
tration were in great doubt, many of them, of the wisdom of 
such a policy. Of course it was expected that it would enter 
into the elections for congressmen and members of the state 
legislatures in the fall of 1862. In Illinois, which in 1860, 
had gone republican by safe majorities, the election went 
against the administration. In 1860 the vote in Illinois was: 
Eepublican, 172,161; all other parties, 160,215. In 1862, 
the vote stood, Republican 120,116, opposition 136,662. The 
house was Democratic by 28, while the senate was Democratic 
by one. There were political revolutions in many of the other 
northern states. 

536. Legislature Democratic. — The legislature met Janu- 
ary 5, 1863. Its attitude toward the national and State ad- 
ministrations was quickly revealed. The newly elected 
speaker of the house, in his address to that body, used the 
words : "I trust that you will feel it your duty to enter the 
solemn protest of the people of the State of Illinois against 
the impolicy and imbecility which, after such heroic and long 



466 A Student's History of Illinois. 

continued sacrifices, still leaves this unholy rebellion not only 
not subdued but without any immediate prospect of termina- 
tion, and I trust that your action may have a potent influence 
in restoring to our distracted country the peace and union of 
bygone days." 

Governor Yates delivered his inaugural message which 
was full of patriotism and hope. He said the rebellion, which 
was designed to perpetuate slavery and plant it upon an en- 
during basis, is now, under a righteous Providence, being 
made the instrument to destroy it." 

The legislature elected the Hon. Win. A. Richardson as 
successor to Stephen A. Douglas as senator for Illinois. The 
members also found time to introduce several resolutions con- 
cerning the war. These were all referred to a committee on 
federal relations. This committee presented majority and 
minority reports. The majority report of course was in time 
adopted. It embodied two fundamental views of the majority 
party in the legislature. First, that the war forces had been 
diverted from the original purposes of preserving the Union 
and suppressing insurrection, to that of freeing the slaves, 
and to the oppression of the people not directly under the 
jurisdiction of military operations. Second, that the prosecu- 
tion of the war cannot result in the preservation of the consti- 
tution and the restoration of the Union, and therefore peace 
should be sought through the means of a national convention 
of all sections. 

537. Peace Commission. — In accordance with the second 
general view of the majority party a commission was appointed 
consisting of Stephen T. Logan, Samuel S. Marshall, H. K. 
S. O'Melveny, Wm. C. Goudy, Anthony Thornton, and John 
D. Caton, who should immediately confer with the government 
at Washington, congress, governors, and legislatures of the 
several states with the above end in view. 

The minority report was very conservative, yet a strong 
endorsement of the administration and in favor of the prose- 



A Student's History of Minis. 467 

cution of the war. A few extracts will show the spirit of the 
minority : "It is the duty of all good citizens to support the 
national and State administrations, and that we hereby offer 
to the administration of Abraham Lincoln, President of the 
United States, and Richard Yates, governor of the State of 
Illinois, our earnest and cordial support in the efforts of their 
respective administrations to put down the present most in- 
famous rebellion. That the first and highest duty of the na- 
tional government is to crush out the existing rebellion. That 
we have no terms of compromise to propose to rebels in arms." 
The last resolve of the minority report was a stinging rebuke 
to those who sought to weaken the power and efficiency of 
the forces in the field. It said : 

Resolved, That the gallant sons of Illinois who have gone forth 
to fight our battles, have achieved for themselves and their State 
imperishable renown; that the page which shall record their deeds 
will be among the brightest of our country's history, and having 
sealed their hatred of treason by the baptism of the battlefield, they 
will, upon their return, pronounce at the ballot box, their condem- 
nation of all men who have dared to express a covert sympathy with 
traitors, or to denounce the sacred cause for which they have shed 
their blood. 

538. Recess. — The legislature took a recess on the 14th of 
February, till the 2d of June, in order to give time for the 
committee appointed to confer with the President, congress, 
etc., to do their work and report. But the armistice resolu- 
tion failed in the senate by reason of the death of a senator 
who favored it. This left the senate a tie with a republican 
lieutenant governor in the chair who cast the deciding vote 
against the resolution and it failed. 

539. Senator Funk. — Before the adjournment on Febru- 
ary 14, the Hon. Isaac Funk, of McLean county, arose in his 
place in the senate and made a speech in which he denounced 
the detractors of Lincoln, Yates, and the soldiers in the field. 
Mr. Funk probably had not prepared a speech but he had sat 
for days and even weeks listening to the abuse of the national 



468 



A Student's History of Illinois. 




Senator Isaac Funk. 



and State administrations, and fired with indignation and 
with a fearlessness that of itself bordered on recklessness, he 
made a speech which has become historic. A few quotations 
will show Mr. Funk's frame of mind : 

I can sit here no longer and not tell these traitors what I think 
of them: and while so telling them, I am responsible, myself, for 
what I say. I stand upon my own bottom, I am ready to meet any 
man on this floor in any manner, from a pin's point to the month 
of a cannon upon this charge against these traitors. . . .1 came to 
Illinois a poor boy; I have a little something for myself and family. 
I pay $3,000 a year in taxes. I am willing to pay $6,000 a year; aye! 
$12,000. Aye! I am willing to pay my whole fortune, and then give 
my life to save my country from these traitors that are seeking to 
destroy it. . . .Yes, these traitors and villians in the senate are kill- 
ing my neighbors' boys, now fighting in the field. I dare to say this 
to these traitors right here, and I am responsible for what I say to 



A Student's History of Illinois. 469 

any and all of them. Let them come on, right here. Mr. Speaker, 
I must beg the pardon of the gentlemen in this senate who are not 
traitors, but true, loyal men, for what I have said I only intend it 
and mean it for secessionists at heart. 

540. Legislature Prorogued. — The legislature came to- 
gether on June 2, but there was no report from the peace com- 
missioners. There was even at this date a reaction against 
the unwise and unpatriotic action of the legislature. Public 
meetings were being held over the State by men of all parties 
indorsing the administration of Lincoln and pledging them- 
selves to support the prosecution of the war to an honorable 
conclusion. Word was coining back from the officers and men 
at the front condemning the efforts of the majority party of 
the legislature to secure "peace at any price." After passing 
a bill for the relief of Illinois soldiers in the field, a disagree- 
ment arose about the time of adjournment, when the gover- 
nor prorogued the legislature greatly to the satisfaction of his 
friends and as greatly to the disgust of the opposition to the 
Yates administration. Within a few days following the pro- 
roguing of the legislature a great mass meeting of probably 
40,000 people was held in Springfield to express their dis- 
approval and even condemnation of the acts of the national 
and State administrations. A counter meeting of friends of 
the Lincoln and the Yates administrations was held in the 
same city in September, 1863. This was attended by thous- 
ands of the friends of the Union. Resolutions were passed 
at these meetings and much enthusiasm for their respective 
sides was created. 

541. Conventions. — Early in the year of 1864 there was a 
convention of the Lmion party and of all others who were 
"unconditionally in favor of maintaining the supremacy of 
the constitution of the United States, of the full, final, and 
complete suppression of and overthrow of the existing rebel- 
lion." This convention met in Springfield May 25. At this 
convention Gen. Richard J. Oglesby was nominated for gov- 



470 A Student's History of Illinois. 

ernor, William Bross for lieutenant governor. The resolu- 
tions as amended from the first report, were outspoken in 
their praise of everything which had been done so far for the 
overthrow of the rebellion. The resolution endorsing Lincoln 
was as follows : 

Resolved, That we are proud of Abraham Lincoln, the President 
of the United States; that we heartily endorse his administration; 
that we honor him for the upright and faithful manner in which he 
has administered the government in times of peril and perplexity be- 
fore unknown in the history of our nation; that we deem his re- 
election to be demanded by the best interests of the country and 
that our delegates to Baltimore are hereby instructed to use all hon- 
orable means to secure his re-nomination, and to vote as a unit on 
all questions which may arise in that convention. 

The Democratic convention for nominating candidates for 
State offices did not meet till after the national Democratic 
convention. There was held in Springfield, however, a con- 
vention, in June, to name delegates to the national Demo- 
cratic convention to be held in Chicago, July 4. In August 
following, a mass convention was held in Peoria at which res- 
olutions were passed declaring that the efforts at restoring the 
Union had proved a failure. Another mass convention was 
held in Springfield August 18, when the two wings of the 
Democratic party tried to get together but without much suc- 
cess. One wing of the party was loyal to the prosecution of 
the war while another was for "peace at any price." The 
State Democratic convention for the nomination of State 
officers met in Springfield September 6, and nominated James 
C. Robinson for governor. 

The national Democratic convention met July 4, but ad- 
journed to August 29. The convention nominated Gen. 
George B. McClellan for President, and George H. Pendle- 
ton, of Ohio, for vice-president. Among their resolutions was 
one which read as follows: 



A Student's History of Illinois. 471 

Resolved, That this convention does explicitly declare as the 
sense of the American people that after four years of failure to re- 
store the union hy the experiment of war, during which. . . .the con- 
stitution itself has been disregarded in every part, and public lib- 
erty and private rights alike trodden down, and the national pros- 
perity of the country essentially impaired, justice, humanity, lib- 
erty, and the public welfare demand that immediate efforts be made 
for the cessation of hostilities. .. .to the end that at the earliest 
practicable moment, peace may be restored on the basis of the federal 
union of the states. 

542. General McClellan. — General McClellan, in his let- 
ter of acceptance, said : 

The union must be preserved at all hazards. I could not look in 
the face of my gallant comrades of the army and navy, who have sur- 
vived so many bloody battles, and tell them that their labors and 
the sacrifices of so many of our slain and wounded brethren had 
been in vain — that we had abandoned that union for which we had 
so often periled our lives. No peace can be permanent without 
union. 

This of course was a severe blow to the party which had 
nominated the gallant soldier as its standard bearer. 

The Union National convention was held in Baltimore, 
June 7, 1864. Abraham Lincoln was nominated for Presi- 
dent, and Andrew Johnson of Tennessee, a Union Democrat, 
was named for vice-president. The campaign was a bitter 
contest. It was characterized by intemperate harangues and 
personal abuse. Many officers were allowed to come home 
from the field to take part in the contest. Naturally, these 
men would not have much patience with a party which had 
denounced the war as a failure, and was willing to accept 
peace on nearly any terms. On the other hand many of the 
speakers for the Democratic nominees were very bitter against 
what they called Lincoln's high-handed disregard of the con- 
stitution and the laws. It was a great relief to the country 
when the election day came around. The election of Lincoln 



472 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



was so overwhelming that there was little ground for further 
opposition to the war. The vote in Illinois stood, for Lin- 
coln, 189,500; and for McClellan, 158,800. 




Monument in the National Cemetery at Mound City. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 47; 



CHAPTER XLIX. 

SOME PHASES OF THE CIVIL WAR. 

543. The War Governors. — In the previous chapter we 
have followed in somewhat chronological order the political 
events of the great contest. There are some other phases of 
the period from '61 to '65 which we may profitably consider. 

The relation between the general government and the State 
government is so vital that neither could carry on what is re- 
garded as its legitimate work without the aid of the other. 
Especially is this true of their relationship in time of war. 
The President is commander-in-chief of the army and navy 
and of the militia when called into the service of the general 
government. But practically the President is dependent upon 
the state machinery for the enlisting and organizing of the 
militia. Thus it happened that from 1861 to the end of the 
war, the President called on the loyal governors to raise troops 
for service in the Union army. In 1861, when the first call 
for troops was made, many of the governors did not pay any 
attention to the request of the President. It soon developed 
that certain of the governors of the states were not to be de- 
pended on for any help of any sort, while others were ready 
at all times to do all in their power to assist the president in 
the prosecution of the war. 

Those governors who loyally supported the President soon 
came to be known as the "War Governors.*' Among those 
who thus received this honorable title were : 

Richard Yates, of Illinois. 

Nathaniel S. Berry, of New Hampshire. 

Andrew G. Curtin, of Pennsylvania. 

David Tod, of Ohio. 



474 A Student's History of Illinois. 

Francis H. Pierpont, of Virginia. 

John A. Andrew, of Massachusetts.. 

Augustus W. Bradford, of Maryland. 

Austin Blair, of Michigan. 

William Sprague, of Rhode Island. 

Samuel J. Kirkwood, of Iowa. 

Edward Salomon, of Wisconsin. 

544. The Draft.— In July, 1862, the President called for 
300,000 troops, and on the 4th of August, he called for 300,- 
000 more. The reply of the various states was not as prompt 
as it was hoped, and the draft of the militia was resorted to 
in some of the states. 

Disturbances arose in Pennsylvania that tested the 
strength of the State administration. Early in 1863, it be- 
came evident that some more effective system of recruitment 
than that previously employed would have to be brought into 
use. A bill for enrolling and calling out the national forces 
was introduced into congress which, after bitter opposition 
from anti-administration members, was made into law the 3d 
of March, 1863. 

It provided for a provost-marshal general, who was to 
have charge of this bureau in the war department. The states 
were divided into districts corresponding to the congressional 
districts over each of which was a provost-marshal, assisted by 
a commissioner, and a surgeon. This board divided its dis- 
trict into sub-districts with an enrolling officer who should 
enroll all able bodied men in the sub-district, usually a county. 

In this way the total reserve force could be accurately de- 
termined. By dividing the "call" for troops, let us say 500,- 
000, by the reserve force of the nation which we may call 
2,500,000, we get the proportion of the reserve in any county 
which that county must furnish. In this problem we get 20 
per cent ; that is, 20 per cent of the able bodied men who have 
been enrolled in any area must answer to the call. If in any 
county, as Morgan, the enrollment of able bodied men is 



A Student's History of Illinois. 475 

1,000, then one-fifth of them, or 200, must go to the front. 
If within a limited time there are not 200 volunteers, then the 
provost-marshal will draw from the names of the 1,000 able 
bodied men, 200 names. These men are said to be "drafted" 
and must go to the front or furnish a "substitute." How- 
ever, the law at first provided that the drafted man might pay 
$300, and be released. In many cities, townships, and coun- 
ties enough money was raised by popular subscription to ex- 
empt that particular county or other district from the draft. 
On July 4, 1861, this commutation plan was repealed. So 
that from that date each drafted man must go to the front or 
furnish a substitute. 

The draft was not run in Illinois till 1864. In that year 
the State was behind its quota, 3,538. This number was 
raised by drafting. A cousin of the writer was drafted and 
paid $1,200 for a "substitute." 

545. Sanitary and Christian Commissions. — We have al- 
ready spoken of the visit of Governor Yates to the battlefield 
of Shiloh. All through the later years of the war there were 
at work all sorts of organizations intended to relieve the suf- 
fering of the soldiers in camp and upon battlefield. A sani- 
tary commission was organized by Governor Yates. The head 
of this commission was Col. John Williams. There was also 
a board of directors. Under the direction of this board there 
were organized auxiliary commissions in every locality where 
there were public spirited, patriotic women. The work done 
by these commissions was to gather together and forward to 
the front every species of clothing, food, medicine, needles, 
pins, scissors, buttons, writing paper, envelopes, in fact any- 
thing a soldier at the front would find comfort in. Fairs and 
suppers and other means of raising money were resorted to. 
The writer remembers attending an all-day gathering of wo- 
men and men at the Bethel church, five miles east of Rood- 
house, Greene county, where they tore sheets and pillow cases 
into strips about as wide as the four fingers. These were 



476 A Student's History of Illinois. 

rolled up into compact rolls and packed away in a box. He 
also remembers that several women had old fashioned case- 
knives which were kept sharpened, and with these they scraped 
"lint" from old table cloths* The lint was carefully packed 
away, and when asked by an inquisitive boy what it was for, 
they said it was "to stop the flow of blood." 

The christian commission's work was not very different 
in spirit at least from that of the sanitary commission. How- 
ever, its work was confined to the relief of those who were be- 
reft of fathers and brothers, and to the care of the returned 
soldiers. It was all a labor of love. During the war more 
than a million dollars in money was raised by these commis- 
sions and expended in the various channels of relief. 

546. The Knights of the Golden Circle. — There were dur- 
ing the war individuals and organizations in the northern 
states who earnestly desired the success of the rebellion. One 
of these organizations came to be known as the Knights of 
the Golden Circle. This organization was made up of sympa- 
thizers with secession. However, now and then a loyal man 
would join, not knowing the exact purposes and workings of 
the order. They had a sort of ritual, and opened and closed 
the order in some such manner as the secret orders of the pres- 
ent time. They met in school houses or in halls, and in one 
instance the writer remembers they took possession of a conn- 
try church. Guards were posted, usually four, at a distance 
of thirty or forty feet from the building. These guards who 
were armed had "beats" and easily kept boys and loafers at a 
safe distance. The meetings were held chiefly at night. One 
line of work which the order carried on was to dissuade sol- 
diers, home on furlough, from returning to their regiments 
at the end of their leave of absence. 

547. Caring for the Widows. — The Civil war occurred 
nearly a half century ago, and it will be with no little diffi- 
culty that young people of today picture accurately the social 
and economic conditions of that date. In the southern conn- 



A Student's History of Illin 



ois. 



411 



JjBPgfr?- ' - ***** — * ' •- r-^ gr s -q 




■ m — • .- - ■ - •-»-»- 1 . Jfc«r- 

' f'" y * -" P»> * •» Ci pt#r 



The Front Cover of a Hand Book on the Order of the Knights of the 
Golden Circle. 

ties of Illinois the settlers were formerly from the southern 
states and lived not very differently from the people in the 
sections from which they came. Usually the fuel, wood in 



478 A Student's History of Illinois. 

those days, was provided as it was used. Corn and fodder 
seldom lasted through the winter, unless it was fed very spar- 
ingly. Spinning and weaving, cutting and making, were all 
carried on in the same room and by the same woman. The 
meat was fattened in the fall and "butchered"' in the cold 
weather, salted, and smoked ready for the summer's use. It 
turned out that when the war came on many a husband and 
father volunteered and went to the front, only on condition 
that the neighbors would look after his wife and children 
till he should return. They solemnly promised and as sa- 
credly fulfilled the promise. Every fall parties of the old 
men and larger boys went from place to place in the neigh- 
borhood doing up the fall work for the families whose fathers 
and older brothers were in the south-land. Wood-choppings, 
corn-huskings, and hog-killings were common in all the loyal 
neighborhoods. Nor was it an uncommon thing to see women 
doing the work of men. They often chopped the wood, gath- 
ered the corn, milked the cows, fed the stock, and in summer 
time helped to tend the crop. The rebellion could not have 
been crushed had it not been for the loyal women of the land. 
548. Disturbances in Illinois. — Xo battles were fought on 
Illinois soil. But we cannot say that no blood was shed within 
her territory during the Civil war. The public mind was 
much disquieted. The bitterest feelings often existed between 
neighbors, who, previous to the outbreak of hostilities, were 
the best of friends. It was no uncommon thing to see people 
attend public gatherings armed with large revolvers. The 
writer remembers going to the funeral of a neighbor, a young 
man who had been arrested by some soldiers and lodged in a 
detention camp in Springfield, and after nearly a year's con- 
finement died of the measles. His body was sent home and 
funeral services held at the homestead. As the hearse drove 
away from the home, neighbors to the number of probably a 



A Student's History of Illinois 479 

couple of dozen carried revolvers buckled on the outside of 
their clothing. It was a strange sight. 

The Knights of the Golden Circle influenced some of the 
soldiers home on furlough not to return, and the provost- 
marshal was not able to gather up all these delinquents. They 
often resisted the marshal and small bodies of delinquents 
and Knights would often scour the country usually at night 
and threaten the loyal people with death for informing on 
them. In Scott and Greene counties the threats, and open 
defiance of law became unbearable, and Governor Yates was 
asked to send a company of soldiers to restore a semblance of 
loyalty to the government. A company under Captain King 
of a Michigan regiment landed at Manchester, Scott county, 
in the summer of 1863. They soon found plenty of good 
horses, saddles, and bridles, greatly to the amazement of cer- 
tain farmers who were Knights of the Golden Circle. They 
also had little trouble in finding forage for their horses, and 
meals for themselves. 

These soldiers soon restored order in Greene, for they 
captured, one autumn morning, a camp of Knights and 
hurried them away to Springfield for safe keeping. Many 
soldiers whose furloughs had expired were captured by Cap- 
tain King's soldiers. These delinquents were court-martialed 
and sent to the Dry Tortugas Islands, where they suffered 
very greatly. At a place on Panther's creek, in the northwest 
corner of Macoupin county. Knights and delinquent soldiers 
gathered to the extent of two or three hundred. They had 
large quantities of arms, munitions, and provisions and pre- 
sented a formidable appearance. A man by the name of 
Steely, who had been a sort of outlaw, was killed on the streets 
of Scottsville, Macoupin county, by the provost-marshal, Doce 
Hackney, of White Hall. The soldiers soon dispersed all 
opposition. 



480 A Student's History of Illinois. 

Around Charleston, Coles county, there were serious con- 
flicts between the authorities and the sympathizers with the 
rebellion in which several lives were lost. 

Horse-thieves and highwaymen plied their vocation in the 
counties adjacent to the Mississippi river, but there was per- 
haps no political significance in much of this. 

549. Great Battles. — Illinois furnished nearly 250,000 
soldiers in the Civil war, and was surpassed in this good work 
only by New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Our troops 
making up such large proportion of the total troops were con- 
sequently scattered in various sections of the zone of war. The 
chief battles in which Illinois troops took part are as follows : 

Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Perryville, Stone River, 
Siege of Vicksburg, Chickamauga, around Chattanooga, 
March to the Sea. 

The total loss of life among the Illinois soldiers was, killed 
in battle, 5,874; died of wounds, 4,020; died of disease, 22,- 
786; died from other causes, 2,154; total deaths, 34,834.. 

550. Illinois' Sons in the War. — There is no place where 
men so quickly earn renown as in fighting the battles of their 
country. The world has always honored her great military 
leaders. Illinois ought to be proud of the record her soldiers 
made in this conflict. The youth of our great State ought to 
become familiar with the stories of the lives of at least a dozen 
of the great names which Illinois is proud to honor. 

First of all those whose names should be familiar, is Abra- 
ham Lincoln. He was commander-in-chief of the army and 
navy for more than four years. The next name is that of 
Ulysses S. Grant. He began in the humble capacity of a 
clerk. He was next the colonel of the 21st regiment. Then a 
brigade commander and later a major general. He then be- 
came the real commander-in-chief of all the Union forces in 
the field and won undying fame as the Great Commander. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



481 



John A. Logan 
was a member of con- 
gress when the con- 
flict began. He raised 
a regiment, the 31st, 
and became its colonel, 
and afterwards rose to 
the rank of major 
general. He has been 
called the greatest 
volunteer soldier, 
never having had pre- 
vious military train- 
ing. 

John M. Palmer 
went into the service 
as colonel of the 14th 
regiment as early as 
May, 1861. He rose 
rapidly to the position 
of major general. 
John A. McClernand was, in his early days, a citizen of 
Shawneetown, but later lived in Springfield. He was in con- 
gress at the opening of the war. He became a noted major 
general. 

Eichard J. Oglesby became a major general and afterwards 
served two terms as governor. Other men from Illinois who 
became major generals were John Pope, Stephen A. Hurlbut 
Benjamin M. Prentiss, John M. Scofield, Napoleon B. Bu- 
ford, Wesley Merritt, Giles A. Smith, and Benjamin H. 
Grierson. 




General John A. Logan 



482 



A Student's History of Illinois. 




GOVERNOR RICHARD J. OGLESBY. 

J865— J869. 



CHAPTER L. 



GOVERNOR RICHARD OGLESBY- 
CIVIL WAR. 



-CLOSE OF THE 



551. Governor Oglesby. — Governor Richard J. Oglesby 
had been elected governor at the November election, 1864. 
The opposition to the war among the Illinois discontents had 
died down. Grant's record up to this time was a sure guar- 
antee that the war must shortly come to an end. The Repub- 
licans had elected majorities in both of the houses of the 
legislature. The legislature convened January 2, 1865. Gov- 
ernor Y^ates delivered his farewell message. It was a review 



A Student's History of Illinois. 483 

of the work of his administration, together with a few sug- 
gestions which seemed to him to demand public attention. 
The new governor was not inducted into office till January 17. 
Governor Oglesby was a man who was seldom moderate in 
anything political. His views were very radical and his lan- 
guage often very harsh. The people of the State came to 
know him better as time went on, and his kindliness of nature 
won him many very warm friends. 

552. Senator Yates. — One of the first things for the legis- 
lature to do was to elect a successor to United States Senator 
William A. Richardson, who was finishing the term to which 
Douglas was elected in the spring of 1859. The Republicans 
selected ex-Governor Richard Yates as their candidate while 
the Democrats supported William A. Richardson. Yates was 
elected and took his seat March 4, 1865. 

553. Legislative Action. — One of the very important acts 
of the legislature was the ratification of the thirteenth amend- 
ment to the constitution. This amendment was passed by 
congress and signed by the President February 1, 1865. Sena- 
tor Trumbull telegraphed the news to Governor Oglesby and 
the legislature was officially notified of the fact by the gover- 
nor in a very earnest message, and on the same day of its sig- 
nature by President Lincoln it was ratified by the legislature 
of Illinois. Thus Illinois was the first State to ratify the 
thirteenth amendment abolishing slavery in the United States. 

The notorious "Black Laws/ 7 which had disgraced the stat- 
ute books for several decades were repealed at this session. 
The school for feeble minded children was established, and 
also a home for the children of deceased soldiers. 

And although the war was seen to be so near an end yet 
the government was still accepting troops under the last call ; 
but on the 13th of April all recruiting was stopped. Lee had 
surrendered on the 9th of April, and that meant the begin- 
ning of the end. 



484 



A Student's History of Illi 



no is. 



554. Lincoln Assassinated. — On the evening of the 14th 
of April, while Mr. Lincoln was attending a theatrical per- 
formance at Ford's Theatre in the city of Washington, he was 
shot by John Wilkes Booth, an actor. Mr. Lincoln died from 
the effects of the wound on the morning of the next day. As 
the sad news reached the remote corners of the Union, there 
was universal and sincere mourning. Nowhere was the loss 
of Mr. Lincoln more keenly felt than in the south where his 





R>i"Ji -* v **'^ r j! % **y \'**'* "1 




reSE iT-* ^S^ 



Memorial Meeting in Bloomington upon the Death of 
President Lincoln. 



real worth was just beginning to be recognized. Mr. Lincoln 
had lived long enough to do a great work and while his death 
appeared to be untimely and tragic, he could not possibly have 
died at a time when his fame would have been more undying. 
Immediately after Mr. Lincoln was shot he was carried 
into the street and across it to a little, cramped-up lodging 
house, and up a stair-way to a lodger's room where his life 
ebbed away. When life had departed, his body was tenderly 
wrapped in a flag and carried to the White House. Mr. Lin- 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



485 



coin was shot on Friday night, and on the following Tuesday 
morning the White House was opened and thousands of peo- 
ple passed silently by the bier of their beloved President. On 
Wednesday funeral services were held by Bishop Simpson, of 
the M. E. church, assisted by Dr. Gurley, Mr. Lincoln's pas- 
tor. On Thursday, the body lay in state in the eapitol, and 
on Friday, the 21st, it was placed in Mr. Lincoln's private car 




Courtesy and Permission of McOlure, Phillips & Co. 
From Ida Tarbell's "Life of Lincoln." Copyright 1900. 



The Car in which President Lincoln's Body was brought from 
Washington to Springfield. 



and began its long and tedious journey from Washington to 
Springfield The route lay through Baltimore, Harrisburg, 
Philadelphia, New York, Albany, Buffalo, Cleveland, Colum- 
bus, Indianapolis, Chicago to Springfield. In all the large 
cities the coffin bearing the remains was taken from the car 
and was placed in some public building where they were viewed 
by thousands of mourning citizens. 

The funeral train reached Springfield May 3. The remains 
lay in the rotunda of the State House on the 3d and 4th, and 



486 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



on the afternoon of the latter day were deposited in a receiv- 
ing vault in the city cemetery, beautiful Oakland cemetery. 
Here they rested until they were removed into the base of the 




Lincoln Monument at Springfield. 



grateful 



and loving 



magnificent monument erected by a 
people. 

555. Illinois in Congress.— The events which absorbed the 
attention of the people for the next few years after the death 
of Mr. Lincoln were chiefly national in character, and while 
Illinois played an important part in these events we cannot 
enter into a detailed consideration of them. Anions: the events 



A Student's History of Illinois. 487 

were the passing and ratifying of the 13th, 14th and 15th 
amendments to the constitution of the United States; the 
reconstruction of the lately rebellious states; the impeach- 
ment, trial, and acquittal of President Johnson; the legisla- 
tion which had for its object the safeguarding of the freed- 
men of the nation. Among the Illinois members in congress 
who took an active part in all this legislation were Senators 
Lyman Trumbull and Richard Yates; Congressmen John A. 
Logan, Elihu B. Washburne, Norman B. Judd, Shelby M. Cul- 
lom, Green B. Raum, Eben C. Ingersoll, Burton C. Cook and 
others. 

In 1866, the congressional elections attracted attention. 
Both parties were anxious to attract the soldier vote. The 
Republicans in their platform endorsed the action of congress 
in its policy of reconstruction, thanked heartily the soldiers 
and sailors, and paid a glowing tribute to the memory of the 
martyr President. The Democrats also expressed the thanks 
of the people of the State for the devoted conduct of the sol- 
diers and sailors. They declared in favor of taxation of the 
United States bonds and in favor of substituting greenbacks 
for national-bank notes. 

The congressional campaign was warmly contested, the 
opposing candidates holding joint discussions in several of 
the districts. 

556. Legislation. — Both branches of the legislature were 
Republican by large majorities. The delegation in congress 
stood eleven Republicans and three Democrats. 

The legislature met January 7, 1867. The governor's mes- 
sage was full of the spirit of devotion to the Union. He 
praised without stint the services of the soldiers and congrat- 
ulated a soldiery who could return from the field of carnage 
and be absorbed into the employments of industrial life. The 
message expressed the universal love and esteem in which the 
late President was held by all the people. 



488 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



At this session of the legislature what came to be the State 
University was founded. The general government had iu 
July, 1862, made gifts of land to all states in proportion to 
their representation in congress for the encouragement of 




State House, Springfield, 



higher education. Illinois received as her share of the land 
480,000 acres. The University was located at Urbana, Cham- 
paign county. 

Another interesting bit of legislation by this general as- 
sembly was the steps taken toward building a new State 
House. When this question came up efforts were made to 
move the capital, but these efforts were unsuccessful and 
Springfield was assured of the permanency of the capital on 
February 25, 1867, when a. bill became law which appropri- 
ated $3,000,000 for a new capitol building. The corner stone 



A Student's History of Illinois. 489 

was laid October 5, 1868, and the building was accepted in 
1888, twenty years later. 

The building when finished cost about $4,500,000. It is 
one of the most imposing state capitols in the Union. It is 
379 feet north and south, and 368 feet east and west. The 
top of the flag staff rises 450 feet into the air; the building 
was, when constructed, said to be the highest public building 
in the United States. The interior is adorned with beautiful 
statuary, bas-relief, and painting. It is a building of which 
every citizen of the State may justly be proud, and one which 
every boy and girl ought to visit. 

The summer of 1868 witnessed another State and national 
campaign. The Eepublicans put out Gen. John M. Palmer 
for governor and instructed for General Grant for president. 
The Democrats named John R. Eden for governor and favored 
George H. Pendleton, of Ohio, for president. The platforms 
followed previous declarations of principles. The national 
parties held their conventions — the Republicans in Chicago, 
May 21, 1868, nominated Gen. U. S. Grant for president, and 
Schuyler Colfax for vice-president. The Democrats met in 
New York City and nominated Horatio Seymour, of New 
York, and Frank P. Blair, of Missouri, for president and 
vice-president, respectively. The campaign centered upon the 
policy of reconstruction. The Republicans uniformly sup- 
ported the congressional theory, while the Democrats as uni- 
formly opposed that legislation. Palmer was elected governor 
for the term 1869-73. The legislature was also Republican. 



490 



A Student's History of Illinois. 




GOVERNOR JOHN M. PALMER, 

1869—1873. 



CHAPTER LI. 



ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR JOHN M. PALMER. 

557. Sketch. — Governor Palmer was a native of Kentucky 
where he was born in 1817. He came to Illinois in 1831, and 
settled with his father upon a farm. His early school advan- 
tages were poor indeed, but shortly after settling in Illinois 
he attended Shurtleff College, Upper Alton, for a short time. 
He afterwards taught school. He also studied law and was 
admitted to the bar in 1839, when only twenty-two years old. 
He served in the legislature and was recognized as a man of 
great strength of character. He was in his earlier years a 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



491 



consistent Democrat, but after the repeal of the Missouri 
Compromise he left that party and helped to organize the Re- 
publican party. He won distinction in the Civil war and was 
made a major general. Governor Palmer was somewhat pro- 
nounced in his views on the subject of State rights. He op- 




Southern Illinois Normal University, Carbondale. 



posed the chartering of railroads by the general government. 
He pointed out that this would deprive the State of the right 
to regulate the railroads by the exercise of the taxing power. 
558. Some Laws.— Among the laws enacted in Palmer's 
administration were those providing for the organization of 
a board of public charities ; to further provide for the insane 
patients by establishing another asylum at Elgin; to estab- 
lish a State Xormal School at Carbondale. Another law, cre- 
ating general interest, was one ceding to the city of Chicago 
about thirty acres of the submerged lands on the lake front 
in Chicago; and also granting to the Illinois Central and 
Michigan Central railroads certain submerged lands for the 



492 A Student's History of Illinois. 

use of tracks, warehouses, depots, etc. Considerable litigation 
followed and eventually the law was repealed. 

It was in Palmer's administration that the revision of the 
constitution was undertaken. The constitution of 1848 vir- 
tually placed no restriction upon special legislation for Ar- 
ticle X., Section 1, records: "Corporations, not possessing 
banking powers or privileges, may be formed under general 
laws, but shall not be created by special acts, except for mu- 
nicipal purposes, and in cases where, in the judgment of the 
general assembly, the object of the corporation cannot be at- 
tained under general laws." Under the pretense that certain 
corporations could not operate under the general law, special 
acts were passed which created hundreds of corporations. In 
the session of the legislature in the spring of 1869, something 
like 1,700 private laws were passed, and the legislature had 
to take a recess in order that the governor might have time to 
give these bills even a cursory examination; besides the con- 
stitution of 1848 had made such scanty provisions for main- 
taining the State government that all sorts of evasions were 
resorted to in order that officers might be properly compen- 
sated for their time and labor. The governor's salary was 
only $1,500 per year, but the legislature would usually appro- 
priate $4,500 for the maintenance of the executive mansion 
and grounds. In this way the governor managed to keep the 
wolf from the door. 

559. Revision of the Constitution. — In 1867, a law was 
passed which permitted the people to vote whether or not they 
wished the constitution revised. The vote was taken in No- 
vember, 1868, and carried. In the legislature of 1869 an elec- 
tion was ordered for eighty-five delegates to a State conven- 
tion to meet December 13, 1869. 

The body of men composing the convention contained some 
of the most prominent in the State and it is admitted that 
the constitution, the result of their labors, is a document of 
great merit. Two features may be mentioned as of special 



A Student's History of Illinois. 493 

interest. First, the legislature was forbidden to pass speeial 
legislation upon twenty-four general subjects ; and second, the 
constitution is mandatory upon the legislature to provide legis- 
tion upon a large number of subjects. Liberal provisions were 
made for salaries and for the maintenance of government. 

560. Bill of Rights. — The constitution contains a bill of 
rights of twenty sections, provides for minority representa- 
tion, and requires the legislature to provide "a thorough and 
efficient system of free schools, whereby all children of this 
State may receive a good common school education.*' All 
corporate bodies, as cities, towns, school districts, etc., are 
prohibited from paying money from the public treasury in 
aid of any church or sectarian purpose, or to any school con- 
trolled by any church. The document was adopted by the 
convention May 13, 1870; ratified by the people at a special 
election July 2, 1870, and went into force August 8, 1870. 

The constitution recognizes God as the giver of all good 
gifts. The preamble reads as follows: "We, the people of 
the State of Illinois, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, 
political, and religious liberty which He hath so long per- 
mitted us to enjoy, and looking to him for blessings upon our 
endeavors to secure and transmit the same unimpaired to suc- 
ceeding generations — in order to form a more perfect govern- 
ment, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide 
for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and se- 
cure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do 
ordain and establish this constitution for the State of Illinois/' 

561. Minority Representation. — One important provision 
in the constitution of 1870, is that which provides for minor- 
ity representation. The constitution created fifty-one sena- 
torial districts in the State. From each senatorial district 
there come one State senator and three representatives. The 
plan by which we may have minority representation is to give 
each elector three votes for representative, and only one for 
senator. The voter may cast his three votes for any one of the 



494 A Student's History of Illinois. 

several candidates running for the lower house. Or he may 
vote one and one-half votes for any two candidates. Or he 
may cast one vote for each of three candidates. Or he may 
cast two votes for one candidate and one vote for a second 
candidate. 

562. Accumulative System. — This is so called because the 
plan allows the voter to accumulate his votes upon any one 
candidate. If there are 16,000 voters in a district, 6,000 
Democrats and 10,000 Republicans, the Republicans will nom- 
inate two candidates for the lower house. Each voter casts 
one and one-half votes for each candidate. This gives each 
15,000 votes by this accumulative plan. The Democrats nom- 
inate one candidate and each voter casts three votes for this 
candidate, thus giving him 18,000 votes. 

Before either party can elect all three representatives in 
any district that party must have one voter more than three- 
fourths of all the voters. 

563. Illinois Central Railroad. — An unnumbered section 

of the constitution of 1870, is as follows: 

No contract, obligation or liability whatever, of the Illinois Cen- 
tral Railroad Company, to pay any money into the State treasury, 
nor any lien of the State upon, or right to tax property of said com- 
pany in accordance with the provisions of the charter of said com- 
pany, approved February 10, in the year of our Lord 1851, shall 
ever be released, suspended, modified, altered, remitted, or in any 
manner diminished or impaired by legislative or other authority; 
and all moneys derived from said company, after the payment of 
the State debt, shall be appropriated and set apart for the payment 
of the ordinary expenses of the State government, and for no other 
purpose whatever. 

This clause is full of significance now in view of the 
claims of the State administration relative to the back taxes 
due the State from the Illinois Central Railroad Company. 

Another clause in the constitution of 1870, prohibits the 
sale or the leasing of the canal without the consent of the peo- 



A Student's History of Illinois. 495 

pie of the State, said consent having been obtained at a gen- 
eral election. 

564. Other Provisions. — The constitution prohibits mu- 
nicipalities from subscribing for any stock in any railroad or 
private corporation; limits the rate of taxation and amount 
of indebtedness that may be incurred ; prohibits special legis- 
lation; declares elevators and ware-houses public utilities and 
provides for their inspection; enjoins upon the legislature the 
maintainance of an efficient public school system ; prohibits 
any appropriation of money for any sectarian purposes what- 
ever ; appellate courts are authorized ; and salaries of State 
officers are fixed by legislative action. 

The campaign in the summer and fall of 1870, was spir- 
ited. Logan was returned to congress as a representative-at- 
large, while the Eepublicans elected the treasurer and super- 
intendent of public instruction. The delegation in congress 
stood : Eepublicans, 8 ; Democrats, 6. In the legislative ses- 
sion of 1871, John A. Logan was elected United States Sena- 
tor to fill the vacancy caused by the expiration of Senator 
Yates' term. Gen. John L. Beveridge was chosen to fill out 
Logan's term as congressman-at-large. 

565. The Chicago Fire.— On Sunday night about 9:30 
o'clock, October 8, 1871, a fire started in the stable or sheds 
in the rear of 137 De Koven street. This locality was, at 
that time, in the poorer part of the city. There were many 
poor people living in this section of the city in the old wooden 
buildings which had stood for many years. There were plan- 
ing mills near, and the poor people had their sheds and out- 
buildings full of shavings to be used as kindling. The wind 
was brisk and it seemed everything pointed to the doom of the 
city. When the flames spread to the better part of the city, 
the elegant stone, and brick, and granite buildings melted as 
if they had been of wood. 

All day on Monday the fire raged. The water tower was 
consumed, hotels, depots, ware-houses, churches, theatres, and 



496 A Student's History of Illinois. 

palatial homes were burned. Men early ceased their labors 
to save the city, and gave their attention toward saving peo- 
ple and some personal effects. 




inn 



"2SE 

^[JilllllJQ^lBCiak ■IIIIIIIIIBIISIIlli 




Map of the Burned District, Chicago. 

It was said at that time that robbery and murder were 
openly committed and so lawless did people become that the 
governor was asked for troops to restore and maintain order 
in the city. Believing the militia, deputy sheriffs, and the po- 
licemen were not equal to the task of guarding property and 
life, the mayor asked Liteut. Gen. Philip Sheridan to 
assist the regularly constituted authorities. General Sheridan 
was at that time stationed above the city on Lake Michigan. 
This request General Sheridan complied with; and in the 
discharge of his duty as a guard, a soldier shot a prominent 
citizen of Chicago, Gen. Thos. W. Grosvenor, who disregarded 
the order at 12 o'clock midnight, to halt and give the coun- 
tersign. The man was fatally wounded. Considerable cor- 
respondence was carried on between the governor and the 
mayor of the city as well as with the general government. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 497 

Governor Palmer insisted that the mayor should not have 
called upon the federal authorities for help so long as there 
was help under the control of the State which might have been 
had for the asking. 

After a very unprofitable and unpleasant contention be- 
tween the governor on one side, and the mayor of Chicago and 
the federal authorities on the other, the matter was dropped 
and the people gave their attention to more profitable ques- 
tions. 

566. Campaign of 72. — The summer of 1872 was full of 
political interest for Illinois. A governor was to be elected 
and one of Illinois' sons was a candidate for re-election to 
the presidency of the United States. Many prominent Re- 
publicans in the nation had become alienated from the Repub- 
lican party and there was rapidly coming to the public notice 
a third party which took the name of the Liberal Republican 
Party. This party was joined by some very prominent Illi- 
nois Republicans, some of whom were David Davis, Lyman 
Trumbull, Governor Palmer, John Wentworth, and many oth- 
ers. The national convention for this party met at Cincin- 
nati May 1, 1872, and nominated Horace Greely and B. Gratz 
Brown for president and vice-president. Its platform de- 
manded that all disability incurred by those lately in rebel- 
lion should be removed, favored civil service reform, advo- 
cated local self-government, and claimed that the tariff was a 
local and not a national question, favored the return to specie 
payment, and pronounced against the further granting of 
public lands in aid of railroads, etc. 

The Democratic national convention met in Baltimore and 
endorsed the Liberal Party's candidates and platform. 

The Republican party held its national convention in Phil- 
adelphia and nominated General Grant for president for a sec- 
ond term and Henry Wilson for vice-president. This platform 
advocated civil service reform, favored the extension of am- 
nesty to the leaders of the rebellion, praised the national cur- 



498 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



rency system, renounced repudiation and favored American 
commerce and shipping. 

The Kepublicans of Illinois nominated General Oglesby 
for governor, and General John L. Beveridge for lieutenant 
governor. The Democrats named Gustavus Koerner for gov- 
ernor and Gen. John C. Black for lieutenant governor. 

The campaign was bitter. Greely had been a stanch sup- 
porter of Lincoln and the war, and had said some harsh and 
uncomplimentary things of the Democratic party and its doc- 
trines, and many old line Democrats found it very difficult to 
support him. Grant was severely criticized by some of the best 
men in the Eepublican party as formerly organized. But af- 
ter a long canvass the Bepublicans were victorious in State 
and nation. 




Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



499 




GOVERNOR JOHN L. BEVERIDGE. 



1873— 1877 



CHAPTER LII. 



GOVERNOR JOHN L. BEVERIDGE— A PERIOD OF UNREST. 

567. Senatorship. — Gov. Richard J. Oglesby was inaug- 
urated as governor of Illinois for the second time, January 
13, 1873. The legislature which had convened a few days 
previously found it its duty to elect a United States senator 
to succeed the Hon. Lyman Trumbull, whose third term would 
close March 4, 1873. The legislature, being largely Repub- 
lican, of course selected a man of that party to succeed Trum- 
bull. Governor Oglesby was the one agreed upon and he was 
elected over Senator Trumbull, the Democratic candidate, the 



500 A Student's History of Illinois. 

vote standing, Oglesby 117, Trumbull 80, scattering 2. This 
action by the legislature made John L. Beveridge governor for 
the succeeding four years. 

The legislation at this session was not such as to attract 
public attention. A million dollars was appropriated to carry 
on the work of the new State House, and a law was passed reg- 
ulating rates on railroads. The laws of 1869 granting the 
lands along the lake front to the city of Chicago were repealed. 

568. An Independent Party. — By the early spring and 
summer of 1874, it was seen that a new factor had entered 
State politics. This new factor was known as the Granger 
Movement. The National Grange or Patrons of Husbandry 
was organized in 1869, and had for its object the uniting of 
all agriculturists for the better securing of their rights as pro- 
ducers and shippers and for the social, moral, and educational 
uplift of the sons and daughters of the farmers. It entered 
politics and was joined by the Democratic party, and other 
opponents of the Republican party. These forces were thus 
able to defeat the Republican candidate for superintendent of 
public instruction while in many smaller divisions of the State 
fusion candidates were elected. 

569. Elijah M. Haines. — In the legislature of 1875 there 
was no one party that had a majority, but by combining the 
interests opposed to the Republican party, E. M. Haines was 
elected speaker of the house over Shelby M. Cullom, Confu- 
sion, even disorder, and ill feeling marked the sessions of the 
house under the speakership of Mr. Haines. The legislation 
was not of very great interest. However, this legislature ap- 
propriated $10,000 for the Centennial Exposition at Phila- 
delphia in 1776, and with this small amount the commission 
made a very creditable showing at that great exposition. 

570. Campaign of 76. — The secession of so large a body 
of prominent leaders from the Republican party in 1872, and 
the rise of the Greenback party, and the Granger party made 
it a little doubtful whether the Republicans would be able to 



A Student's History of Illinois. 501 

carry the next State and national elections. The national 
Republican ticket was : For President, Rutherford B. Hayes, 
and William A. Wheeler for vice-president. The Democrats 
named Samuel J. Tilden and Thomas A. Hendricks for presi- 
dent and vice-president, respectively. The State Republican 
ticket was, for governor, Shelby M. Cullom, with Andrew Shu- 
man for lieutenant governor. The Democrats named, for gov- 
ernor, Lewis Steward, the nominee of the Greenback and Re- 
form party, and A. A. Glynn for lieutenant governor. 

Shelby M. Cullom and the other Republican nominees were 
elected, and everyone is familiar with the bitter conflict in 
congress which followed the national election of 1876. 

Governor Beveridge made a very conservative executive. 
The finances of the State were well managed, the debt having 
been reduced more than half a million dollars. His parting 
message was a very thoughtful consideration of the affairs of 
the State. He also advised moderation in the trying ordeal 
through which the nation at that time was passing. 



502 A Student's History of Illinios. 




GOVERNOR SHELBY M. CULLOM. 

1877— 1883 



CHAPTER LIIL 



ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR CULLOM. 

571. A Kentuckian. — Gov. Shelby M. Cullom is a native 
of Kentucky, having been born in Wayne county, that state, 
November 22, 1829. He came to Tazewell county, Illinois, 
when about two years old. Governor Cullom was brought up 
on a farm and learned the lessons of hard and honest toil, 
and also those of sacrifice and lack of opportunity. However, 
through perseverance and constant toil he secured a fairly 
good education at the Rock River Seminary, Mount Morris, 
Illinois. He afterward became a lawyer. He served in the 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



503 



State legislature and also in congress. He was well fitted for 
the high station to which his fellow citizens had now called 
him. 

The legislature convened January 3, 1877. The governor 
was inaugurated January 8. His inaugural address was highly 
commended as wise and statesman-like. 




Honorable David Davis. 



572. David Davis.— The first thing for the legislature was 
the election of a successor of General Logan to the United 
States senate. The Republicans lacked a few votes of having 
a majority of all the votes in both houses. Logan was sup- 
ported by the Republicans. Palmer by the Democrats, with 
about fifteen votes scattered. These independent votes could 
not be brought to either of the old parties, so after many bal- 
lots in joint session David Davis was elected. He was at this 
time on the supreme bench, which place he resigned to take 



504 A Student's History of Illinois. 

the seat in the United States senate to which he had just been 
elected. 

The legislature passed among other laws a measure creat- 
ing the state appellate court. This court is just below the su- 
preme court and was intended to relieve the over-crowded con- 
dition of the supreme court. It is still a part of the state ju- 
dicial system and has greatly relieved the higher court. 

573. Railroad Strike. — In the summer of 1877 a general 
railroad strike was ordered. And inasmuch as Illinois had 
many thousands of miles of railroads, this State became the 
scene of much disorder, and destruction of property. The 
militia was called into service; and the governor asked the 
general government to allow a small detachment of regulars, 
on its way from the west to the east, to stop in Chicago and 
assist in preserving order, which it did. Much rioting, and 
destruction of property occurred in East St. Louis and at other 
points as at Peoria, Galesburg, Decatur, Braidwood, etc. Sev- 
eral lives were lost and much bitter feeling engendered. 

The election of congressmen, state treasurer, and superin- 
tendent of public instruction occurred in November, 1878. 
The monetary system was the chief subject of consideration in 
the canvass. The Democratic party favoring the repeal of the 
resumption laws and the issuing of all paper money by the 
general government. The Republicans opposed the decrease 
in the volume of the Greenbacks, and was in favor of receiv- 
ing such currency as could be kept at par with gold and silver, 
for impost duties. The Republicans elected the State candi- 
dates — Gen. John 0. Smith for treasurer, and James P. Slade 
for superintendent of public instruction, and eleven out of 
nineteen representatives in congress. 

574. Senator Logan. — Governor Oglesby's term as United 
States senator expired March 4, 1879, and he desired to be re- 
turned, but John A. Logan got the endorsement of the Repub- 
lican caucus. Logan was elected, the Democrats voting for 
Gen. John C. Black. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 505 

The legislative session was a very busy one and passed some 
really valuable laws. Among them may be mentioned — a law 
on banking, one reducing the interest rate, a law creating 
houses of correction, and revising the law relating to roads 
and bridges. 

The campaign of 1880 was a very hard fought battle in the 
United States. The Democrats felt they had been cheated out 
of their President in 1876, and they went into the canvass de- 
termined to win. The Republicans were divided among them- 
selves relative to their candidate for the presidency. There 
was a large number of the leading Republicans who favored 
the nomination of Grant for the third term, while a very large 
contingent of the party thought it unwise to do so. After a 
bitter fight in the State convention the delegates to the national 
convention were instructed for General Grant for the presi- 
dency. Governor Cullom was renominated for governor, and 
John M. Hamilton for lieutenant governor. 

The Democrats put forward Judge Lyman Trumbull for 
governor, and Lewis B. Parsons for lieutenant governor. The 
Greenback Reform party also had a ticket in the field. 

The Republicans nominated Gen. James A. Garfield for 
president and Chester A. Arthur for vice-president. The 
Democrats named Gen. W. S. Hancock for president, and 
Wm. H. English for vice-president. The Republicans were 
successful in the State and in the nation. 

575. Out of Debt.— The legislature met January 5, 1881, 
and on the 7th the governor sent his message to the legisla- 
ture. He stated that the debt of the State had, virtually, all 
been paid. He also discussed the subject of education and 
labor. 

There was little legislation of general interest. The legis- 
lature having failed to pass the appropriation bills, it was 
called together in March, 1882, to perform that duty. The 
congressional elections occurred in the fall of 1882. Gen. 
John C. Smith, the Republican candidate for treasurer, was 



506 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



elected over his Democratic opponent, Mr. Alfred Orendorff, 
while Henry B.aab, the Democratic candidate for superintend- 
ent of public instruction was elected over his Republican op- 
ponent, Mr. Charles T. Stratton. The legislature organized 
and proceeded to the election of a successor to David Davis 
as United States senator. Governor Cullom was elected to 
this post of honor, over his opponent. Gen. John M. Palmer. 
Governor Cullom resigned his office of governor and the lieu- 
tenant governor was promoted to the office of chief executive. 




A Block House erected in Money Creek Township in 1 832. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



507 




GOVERNOR JOHN M. HAMILTON. 

1883-J885. 



CHAPTER LIV. 



GOVERNOR JOHN M. HAMILTON. 

576. High License. — John M. Hamilton was a scholarly 
gentleman, having been professor of languages in the Illinois 
Wesleyan University at Bloomington. Governor Hamilton 
was not a man who attracted people to him, but he was nev- 
ertheless a man who was highly respected by those who came 
to know him. He was only thirty-five years old when he be- 
came governor of Illinois. 

The legislature, at the session of 1883, enacted what is usu- 
ally called the Harper High License Law. This law raised 
the license of dram shops to not less than $500. The discus- 
sion which this legislation created tended greatly to the dis- 



508 A Student's History of Illinois. 

semination of a knowledge of the iniquity of the dram shops; 
and much good was done by this discussion in that it lessened 
the number of low "dives" in large cities and also awakened 
people to a realization of the dreadful consequences of the 
dram shop business. 

A compulsory education law was passed, and also a law 
creating training schools for boys. 

Riots occurred in the mining regions in the south part of 
the State, and the militia was called out. The disturbance 
was easily quieted after the militia got once in the disturbed 
territory. Some lives were lost. 

577. A Democratic President.— The campaigns, State and 
national in lSSi, began quite early in the year. The Repub- 
lican State convention met in Peoria, on April 16, and selected 
Col. James A. Connally as president of the convention. Ex- 
Governor Oglesby was nominated for governor and Gen. John 
C. Smith for lieutenant governor. Delegates to the national 
Eepublican convention were instructed to secure the nomina- 
tion of Gen. John A. Logan for president. 

The Democratic State convention met at the same place 
July 7, and Judge Monroe C. Crawford was selected as chair- 
man. Carter H. Harrison was named for governor, and Henry 
Seiter for lieutenant governor. The Greenback party and the 
Prohibition party also put out State tickets. 

At the national Republican convention a vigorous contest 
took place between James G. Blaine and "the field." Blaine 
won and was nominated for president. Gen. John A. Logan 
accepted the nomination for vice-president. 

The national Democratic party put in the field a strong 
ticket. For president, Grover Cleveland, of New York, and 
for vice-president, Thomas A. Hendricks, of Indiana. The 
national battle ground was New York state, and it was soon 
seen that the party which carried the state of New York 
would be almost certain to be victorious. When the votes were 
counted out it was found that Cleveland had carried New York 



A Student's History of Illinois. 509 

by a majority of 1,047. Cleveland and Hendricks were there- 
fore elected. Illinois went Republican by about 25,000 ma- 
jority. 

578. Dead Lock. — Governor Oglesby was inaugurated Jan- 
uary 30, 1885. This was the third time he had been inducted 
into the office of governor of Illinois. This was a rare in- 
stance, probably few other governors were ever elected and in- 
augurated the third time. The legislature stood, senate 26 
Republicans, 24 Democrats, one Greenbacker. House, 76 for 
each party with one independent. This gave 102 Republicans 
on joint ballot with 102 in opposition. Three deaths occurred, 
Frank Bridges, Democrat, of the 37th district; Robert E. 
Logan, Republican, of the 19th district, and J. Henry Shaw, 
Democrat, of the 34th district. A Republican succeeded Lo- 
gan and a Democrat succeeded Bridges. In the 34th district 
a "still hunt" was made by the Republicans. Men were sent 
into the district who were ostensibly insurance agents, light- 
ning-rod peddlers, sewing-machine peddlers, and stock buyers, 
etc. They canvassed the Republican vote and took the Demo- 
crats completely by surprise. The district gave Cleveland 
over 2,000 majority, but the Republican candidate for the 
legislature, Wm. H. Weaver, beat the Democratic candidate, 
Mr. Leeper, by 336 votes. This was hailed with great rejoic- 
ing by the Republicans. This gave Logan 103 votes and he 
was declared elected. 

This contest over the senatorship had so absorbed the legis- 
lative mind that no general legislation was had till the contest 
was over. The appropriations were then passed, including a 
half million to complete the State House. A soldiers' and 
sailors' home was provided at Quincy, a primary law to apply 
to political parties was passed. 

Another important and far reaching action was taken. An 
amendment to the constitution was proposed and carried at 
the election providing that convicts could no longer be hired 
out to contractors. 



510 A Student's History of Illinois. 

579. Disorders.— The election in the fall of 1886 resulted 
in the election of John R. Tanner, Republican candidate for 
treasurer, over Henry F. J. Richer, the Democratic nominee; 
and Richard Edwards, Republican, over Franklin T. Oldt, for 
superintendent of public instruction. Labor riots occurred in 
Will and Cook counties and the militia was called out to quell 
the disorder. Strikes and labor disorders also occurred at 
East St. Louis in the summer of 1886. Four strikers were 
killed and several wounded by the militia. Disorders also 
occurred in and about the stock yards in Chicago in 1886. 
which required the presence of the militia. 

In the same summer occurred the "Hay Market" riots in 
Chicago. This was a public meeting held in the open air on 
Halstead street, late one afternoon. The participants were 
all or mostly all foreigners, and probably had little conception 
of what it meant to be engaged in such a conspiracy against 
constitutional authority. Quite a body of police arrived just 
about the time the rioters were wrought up to a high pitch 
by reason of some incendiary speeches. Bombs were thrown 
in among the police and seven policemen killed outright while 
about sixty were wounded. Vigorous civil prosecutions fol- 
lowed. Four of the rioters were hanged and two were impris- 
oned for life, and one committed suicide. 

Senator John A. Logan, having died in office, in the first 
of the year 1886, the legislature chose Chas. B. Farwell to fill 
the vacancy. Mr. Farwell was not a lawyer and had never 
held a State office, but had served in congress. He was a 
business man and as such was quite useful in the United States 
senate. 

The campaign of 1888 resulted in the selection of Joseph 
W. Fifer, the Republican candidate for governor, over his op- 
ponent, John M. Palmer, the Democratic nominee. This was 
also the presidential year, and the race for President was be- 
tween Grover Cleveland and Gen. Benjamin Harrison. Har- 
rison was elected. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



511 




GOVERNOR JOSEPH W. FIFER. 

1889—1893. 



CHAPTEE LV. 

JOSEPH W. FIFER, GOVERNOR. 

580. Private Joe. — At the outbreak of the Civil war, Mr. 
Fifer was a young man of twenty years of age. He entered 
the Normal regiment and was known as a valiant soldier. He 
took part in the Vicksburg campaign, and at the surrender of 
that stronghold on July 4, 1863, Mr. Fifer was one of the 



512 A Student's History of Illinois. 

first of the soldiers to enter the captured city. On July 13, 
he was shot through the right lung in a charge upon the breast- 
works at Jackson, Mississippi. It was thought to be a mortal 
wound, but the young soldier recovered and served out his en- 
listment. 

Upon his return home he finished his schooling, studied 
law, and held several positions of honor and trust. In the 
campaign he was called "Private Joe." He was inaugurated 
January 14, 1889. His inaugural message was pitched upon 
the high plane of political purity and acquiescence in the will 
of the majority. He also showed himself a friend to the la- 
borer and to the cause of education. 

581. Drainage Canal. — The general assembly, on May 29, 
1889, created what was called the "Sanitary District of Chi- 
cago." This law provided for the removal of obstructions 
from the Des Plaines and Illinois rivers, and the opening of a 
channel from Lake Michigan to the Des Plaines so as to cause 
a flow of water from the lake to the head waters of the Illi- 
nois river. 

Work was begun September 3, 1892, and completed in Jan- 
uary, 1900. The canal proper begins six miles up the Chicago 
river and runs twenty-eight miles southwest to the Des Plaines 
at Lockport. The canal is on an average about 175 feet wide 
and sustains a depth of water twenty-two feet deep. The cur- 
rent is less than two miles per hour but this is sufficient to 
carry away all the sewerage of the city and thus purify the 
waters of Lake Michigan. 

This great channel cost nearly $37,000,000. It is intended 
to serve two great purposes, 1st the sanitation of the city of 
Chicago, and 2d as a portion of a deep water way from the 
Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. 

582. Origin of the World's Fair.— The Chicago Inter- 
State Exposition, an organization of the city of Chicago, first 
suggested the holding of a World's Fair, in Chicago to cele- 
brate the discovery of America. The enterprise met with favor 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



513 



throughout the country. Senator Chill om succeeded in getting 
a bill through congress locating the Fair in Chicago, and also 
an appropriation of a large sum for an exhibit. A corpora- 
tion was formed in Chicago with a capital of $10,000,000. 




Illinois Building at the World's Fair, 1893, 



It was soon seen that the Fair could not be successfully held 
in 1892, and the date 3 was changed to 1893. This was a great 
exposition. Nearly every civilized country on the globe sent 
commissioners and exhibits. Illinois had a most magnificent 
exhibit in a spacious building of wonderfully beautiful archi- 
tectural design. Nearly a million dollars was expended by 
the State in the building and exhibits. 

The Fair was a great means of advertising the State and 
particularly the city of Chicago. The White City by the lake 
will remain a vision of beauty and a joy forever in the minds 
of all who beheld its classic proportions. In the session of the 
legislature which convened in 1891, there was a number of 
laws passed which were really meritorious. Among them may 
be mentioned — the setting aside of the first Monday in Sep- 



514 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



tember as Labor Day, a legal holiday; reducing the rate of 
interest to five per cent with seven per cent as the maximum 
by contract; providing for registration of voters every two 
years. 

583. Old Kaskaskia. — For several years prior to 1891, the 
Mississippi river had been cutting across the peninsula and 
finally reached the Kaskaskia. It then began to encroach upon 
the town. The north and east parts of the village began to 
disappear in the river. The cemetery would soon be engulfed. 
The legislature of the year 1891, appropriated $10,000 for the 
purpose of securing a new burying ground and for moving 
the bodies to the new site. 

About 3,000 bodies were removed in 1892-3, the new site 
lying near to old Fort Gage on the east side of the river. A 
large monument was erected in the new cemetery bearing this 
inscription : 




Kaskaskia Monument. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



515 



THOSE WHO SLEEP HERE WERE FIRST BURIED AT 
KASKASKIA, AND AFTERWARDS REMOVED TO THIS 
CEMETERY. THEY WERE THE EARLY PIONEERS OF 
THE GREAT MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. THEY PLANTED 
FREE INSTITUTIONS IN A WILDERNESS, AND WERE 
THE FOUNDERS OF A GREAT COMMONWEALTH. IN 
MEMORY OF THEIR SACRIFICES, ILLINOIS 
GRATEFULLY ERECTS THIS MONUMENT. 



1892 



Little is now left of the once proud center of fashion and 
power. As one walks in and out among a few old cabins still 
remaining, and through a portion of the old grave yard, he is 
carried back over a period of one hundred and fifty years to 
the thriving, bustling capital of the "Illinois Country," to 
Kaskaskia, the largest city west of the Alleghany mountains. 



516 



A Student's History of Illinois. 




GOVERNOR JOHN P. ALTGELD. 

J893-t897. 



CHAPTER LVI. 



GOVERNOR JOHN P. ALTGELD. 

584. Landslide. — The State government had been admin- 
istered by the Republican party for so many years that some 
may have thought the party could not be dislodged. But if 
any held such views, their minds were disabused in the fall 
of 1892; for in November of that year John P. Altgeld, the 
Democratic candidate for governor was elected. 

Governor Altgeld was what we are so proud of in this 
country, "a self made man." He was in his youth accustomed 
to toil. While living in Mansfield, Ohio, at the age of four- 
teen, his task was to drive the milch cows several miles into 



A Student's History of Illinois. 517 

the country to pasture each morning and to fetch them that 
night. 

At the age of sixteen he enlisted in the Union army and 
served with the army about the national capital. After the 
war he taught school, studied law, and was elected judge of 
the court in Chicago. 

585. An Author. — Governor Altgelcl was born in Ger- 
many, and this may partly explain his strong convictions on 
some public questions. He had given some of the time of a 
very busy lawyer's life to the study of how to deal with crim- 
inals. He wrote two books — one entitled, "Our Penal Ma- 
chinery and its Victims;" the other, "Live Questions," and 
later he wrote a third volume, with the second title. 

When Mr. Altgeld came to the governor's office, among all 
the perplexing questions which presented themselves to him, 
was one which he did not shrink from answering as he thought 
it ought to be answered. This was a request for the pardon 
of the so-called "anarchists" who had been implicated in the 
Hay Market riots in Chicago. These men were serving life 
sentences in the penitentiary. The governor pardoned them 
in spite of the protests of his friends and foes. 

The national contest was between Benjamin Harrison, of 
Indiana, and Grover Cleveland, of New York. In Illinois, 
previous legislation on compulsory school attendance alienated 
a large Eepublican vote from the Republican party, while the 
Prohibitionists and Greenbackers polled nearly 50,000 votes, 
many of which came from the Republican ranks. However, 
the Democratic party was well organized and were determined. 
Illinois was highly honored in furnishing the vice-president, 
who served with Mr. Cleveland from 1893 to 1897— the Hon. 
Adlai E. Stevenson. Mr. Stevenson no doubt greatly strength- 
ened the ticket in the west and especially in Illinois. Mr. 
Stevenson now resides in Bloomington and is a highly re- 
spected citizen of the commonwealth. 



518 



A Student's History of Illinois. 




Ex- Vice-President Adlai E. Stevenson. 



586. The Chicago Strike. — In the session of the legislature 
of 1893 the usual number of laws was enacted. Among these 
laws we may mention the compulsory education law, establish- 
ing homes for juvenile offenders, establishing a naval-militia, 
anti-sweat shop laws, etc. 

The World's Columbian Exposition occurred in Governor 
Altgeld's administration. 

The irrepressible conflict between capital and labor was 
renewed in 1894. This may have been partly the outcome of 
the organization of the American Railway Union. This or- 
ganization unified all the interests of the several labor unions 
or brotherhoods in the business of railroading, and it may 
have been thought now that these organizations were better 
able to resist encroachments upon labor than they were for- 
merly. At any rate the American Railway Union refused to 
agree to a reduction of wages in the Pullman shops at Chi- 
cago, and a general strike was precipitated. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



519 



This strike presented the occasion for disorderly and vi- 
cious persons to ply their vocations, and by the middle of the 
snnnner great confusion reigned in the city of Chicago. Trains 
were derailed, perishable property was blockaded, the United 




Eastern Illinois Normal School, Charleston. 



States mails were interfered with, and destruction of property 
was the regular order of the day. The courts issued injunc- 
tions which the marshals and federal attorneys certified they 
could not enforce. The President, Mr. Cleveland, ordered the 
United States troops from Fort Sheridan to the city to en- 
force the orders of the federal courts. 

Governor Altgeld protested vigorously against the pres- 
ence of federal troops in the city, and upon the request of the 
mayor sent four regiments of State troops. Order was sub- 
sequently restored. More than half a million dollars worth 
of property was destroyed, twelve lives lost and a bad name 
attached to the strikers which they probably did not deserve. 



520 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



587. Altgeld Architecture. — Quite a number of public 
buildings were constructed during the four years of Mr. Alt- 
geld's term. In the session of the legislature of 1895, two 
new normal schools were authorized. One was located at 
Charleston, the other at DeKalb. 

Governor Altgeld was deeply interested in the wise ex- 
penditure of the people's money, as well as in the kinds of 
buildings erected. He so impressed his ideas upon the archi- 
tects and building committees that we may now see scattered 
over the State a peculiar type of public buildings which is 
known as the Altgeld style of architecture. 



Ifi^^Vfe^^ * ' 


-'USSi 




Jgi 


'*' i ^a^^m^aS^%h\ '.JaPBr*VW * 


£ft ""^^p 




PS? r %^- ^Mm & l jfifc 




wmm' m 8 



Northern Illinois Normal School, DeKalb. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



521 




GOVERNOR JOHN R. TANNER, 

J897-t90J. 



CHAPTER LVII. 



GOVERNOR JOHN R. TANNER. 

588. An Egyptian. — Governor Altgeld was succeeded by 
John R. Tanner. Mr. Tanner was a real Egyptian. His 
home was Louisville, Clay county. He had been actively en- 
gaged in politics for several years prior to his election to the 
position of chief executive. He had been sheriff and circuit 
clerk of Clay county ; state senator, and state treasurer ; United 
States marshal, and railroad and ware-house commissioner; 
and assistant United States sub-treasurer at Chicago. And 



522 A Student's History of Illinois. 

now in 1896 he is elected governor over his predecessor, John 
P. Altgeld. 

589. Some Legislation. — At the first session of the legis- 
lature during Governor Tanner's term, an act was passed cre- 




Western Illinois Normal School, Macomb. 

ating the board of pardons. The constitution placed the 
pardoning power in the hands of the governor with a provi- 
sion that the legislature might regulate the manner of apply- 
ing for pardon. A board of pardon was created consisting of 
three members, whose duty is to receive all applications for 
pardon and report their decisions to the governor. The board 
sits quarterly, but special sessions may be held. The second 
"Torren's Land Act," a law for securing a better system of 
transferring land, was also passed. This law also provides for 
the confirming of land titles against which titles no prior 
claims to the lands are of any value. The system originated 
in Germany and is more than six hundred years old. It is in 
operation in Cook county in this State. It may be adopted 
in any county by a vote of the people. 

Other legislation pertained to the primary elections, the 
revenue laws, juvenile courts, pure food, preserving the game, 
and creating the Western Normal. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 523 

590. Spanish American War. — When war broke out be- 
tween the United States and Spain, following the destruction 
of the Maine, the old time war spirit showed itself everywhere 
in the United States, but nowhere more than in Illinois. The 
State furnished eight regiments, one of which was colored. 

591. Lincoln Monument. — The Lincoln monument was 
transferred from the original Lincoln Monument Association 
to the State in May, 1895. When Mr. Tanner came into office 
it was found that the structure, which cost a quarter of a mil- 
lion of dollars, was settling to one side besides otherwise dis- 
integrating. An appropriation of $100,000 was made for 
repairs which were made under the direction of a state board 
consisting of the governor, superintendent of public instruc- 
tion, and state treasurer. 

592. Protection of Game. — Laws for the preservation of 
our game, animals and birds, have been on our statute books 
for many years, but in 1899 the law provided for a state game 
commissioner with a game warden for each congressional dis- 
trict and deputies for each county. These officers are very 
diligent inasmuch as their pay depends upon the fines col- 
lected for violations of the law. In the year ending June 30, 
1902^ all expenses of this work had been paid out of the fines 
collected and a balance of nearly $5,000 to the credit of the 
fund remained. 

593. Factory Inspection. — In Governor Tanner's term the 
laws governing juvenile labor were greatly strengthened as 
well as the laws of sanitation in factories generally. The law 
provides that children under fourteen years may not be em- 
ployed in certain factories, and those between fourteen and 
sixteen only when the management has on file permits from 
the parent. Great good has resulted from this law. The hours 
have been shortened, juveniles have been taken out of ex- 
tremely hazardous places in the factories, sanitation improved, 
and responsibility increased. 



524 



A Student's History of Illinois. 




GOVERNOR RICHARD YATES, Jr. 

J90J-J905. 



CHAPTER LVIII. 



RICHARD YATES, GOVERNOR. 

594. Father and Son. — Gov. John R. Tanner was suc- 
ceeded in office by Richard Yates, son of the famous "war gov- 
ernor." Mr. Yates was born in Jacksonville, December 12, 
1860. His father moved into the executive mansion in Spring- 
field about the first of January, 1861. While yet a boy of 
less than five years old he was in the midst of the stirring 
times of the great civil strife. His father was the most promi- 
nent figure in the west during that critical period. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 525 

Richard, junior, was educated in the public schools, Whip- 
ple Academy, Illinois College, and Michigan University. He 
took up the practice of law, and was city attorney of Jack- 
sonville six years; county judge three years, and internal reve- 
nue collector two years. 

His campaign for the nomination for governor was quite 
dramatic. He made a tour of some of the counties accom- 
panied by a "bugler," who had no trouble in drawing a crowd. 

The Republican State convention met in Peoria in May, 
1900. Here Mr. Yates was nominated for governor. The 
Democrats nominated a very popular gentleman for the same 
office, Mr. Samuel Alschuler, of Aurora. The campaign was 
vigorously contested, both candidates being unusually good 
speakers. The State went Republican by a large majority. 

Mr. Yates was inaugurated in January, 1901. Governor 
Yates took with him into the executive mansion, his mother, 
who forty years previously had entered that same mansion 
with Dick Yates, a baby only a few weeks old. 

595. Farmers' Institute. — Probably the most far reaching 
legislation in Governor Yates' term was the law creating the 
Illinois Farmers' Institute. The following is the enacting 
clause : 

Section 1. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, 
represented in the general assembly, That to assist and encourage 
useful education among the farmers, and for developing the agricul- 
tural resources of the State, that an organization under the name 
and style of "Illinois Farmers' Institute" is hereby created, and 
declared a public corporation of the State. 

The directors of this organization are the superintendent 
of public instruction, professor of agriculture of Illinois, pres- 
ident of the state board of agriculture, president of the state 
horticulture society, and president of the state dairymen's 
association. 

There are congressional and county organizations. A 
great work is being done through the local meetings which 



526 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



are held in every county once a year. The public schools are 
heartily co-operating with the Farmers' Institute. The State 
University is also co-operating and in a large measure leading 
the way. The dawning of a brighter day for the farmer and 
the rural school is at hand. 

The Louisiana Purchase Exposition was held in St. Louis 
in 1904. Illinois erected a very fine building and made cred- 
itable exhibits in many lines, especially in coal, grains, dairy 
products, stock, and scientific farming. 



dk* 



M I 



IS 



. i.*^* tit* 

- : - ■" "■ ■■- ; ...„><»& 

i i r 





Illinois Building, World's Fair, J 904. 



596. A Dead Lock. — As Governor Yates' term drew to a 
close his candidacy was announced for a renomination. He 
had attached to himself many warm friends ; he had also in 
different ways alienated a number of active politicians. 

When the State Republican convention met in Springfield 
on Thursday, May 12, 1904, there were seven candidates for 
the nomination for governor. These were Eichard Yates, 
Frank 0. Lowden, Charles S. Deneen, Howard J. Hamlin, 
Vespasian Warner, Lawrence Y. Sherman, and John H. 
Pierce. In addition there were several "dark horses." 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



527 



The convention held daily sessions, except on Sunday, 
from the 12th of May till the 20th. On that day the fifty- 
eighth ballot was taken with no choice. A recess was taken 
till the 31st of May. On this day the convention resumed its 
work. On the afternoon of Friday, June 3, Charles S. De- 
neen was nominated for governor. This was the most pro- 
longed State convention ever held in this State. 

The Democrats nominated the Hon. Lawrence Stringer, 
of Lincoln, as their standard bearer. Mr. Deneen was elected 
by a very large majority. 



a 







- — ^V"-x^ \?m % 






« Vis 



McLean County's First JaU. 



528 



A Student's History of Illinois. 




GOVERNOR CHARLES S. DENEEN. 

1905— 



CHAPTER LVIX. 



GOVERNOR CHARLES S. DENEEN. 

597. Another Egyptian.— The present governor of the 
State was born in Edwardsville, Illinois, May 4, 1863. He 
was educated in Mclvendree College, and in the law school of 
Northwestern University. While getting started in the law 
business in Chicago he taught night school to support himself. 
He has held the position of representative in the general as- 
sembly, attorney for the Chicago sanitary board, state's at- 
torney for Cook county, besides positions of trust in his party. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 529 

598. Inaugural. — Governor Deneen was inaugurated on 
January 9, 1906. His inaugural message was a timely dis- 
cussion of the merit system in public service, a primary elec- 
tion law, and economy in public expenditures. Governor De- 
neen had previously said on a public occasion : "The office 
of governor is a high and honorable one .... Its occupant em- 
bodies for the time being the collective conscience and will of 
the whole people. . . .Efficient service is the test of merit." 

599. Legislation. — The first session of the general assem- 
bly placed two very important laws upon the statute books. 
One was a Civil Service Law. This law provides that all 
places of employment in any institutions over which the state 
board of charities has supervision shall be filled by appoint- 
ment from an eligible list made up of those who have success- 
fully passed a State civil service examination. The other law 
was a Primary Election Law. This was declared unconsti- 
tutional and the legislature was called in extra session April 
10, 1906, to enact another primary law. The merits of this 
law have not yet been thoroughly tested. The first election 
was held under the law August 4, 1906. 

600. Back Taxes. — Another thing Governor Deneen is 
deeply interested in is collecting from the Illinois Central 
Railroad Company what is claimed to be a large unpaid tax 
covering the past thirty or forty } r ears. Suits have also been 
begun against several ex-treasurers and ex-auclitors for large 
sums said to be in their hands as unpaid balances due the 
State. 

Governor Deneen is conservative, and cannot be crowded 
into any line of action against his judgment. He has had 
large experience with men and measures, and his friends pre- 
dict for him a brilliant and useful future. 



530 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



CHAPTER LX. 

THREE GREAT INDUSTRIES— AGRICULTURE, MINING AND 
MANUFACTURING. 

601. Our Institutional Life. — From a material point of 
view, our industries are fundamental. They are the source 
of our sustenance as well as the only means by which our in- 
tellectual and spiritual natures may be cultivated. We may, 
therefore, be justified in speaking of some of the more im- 
portant. 

602. Agriculture. — In Illinois thirty-two per cent of our 
people are engaged in agricultural pursuits. Illinois is the 
very center of the agricultural interests of the United States. 




The Agricultural College of the State University, Urbana. 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



531 



The center for the number of farms in the United States 
is at Fairfield, Wayne county, this State. 

The center of value of all farm property in the United 
States is ten miles north of Jacksonville, Morgan county. 




A Model Barn. 



The center for all the corn grown in the United States is 
twenty-five miles south of Jacksonville. 

The center for the total acreage of improved farm lands is 
twenty miles southwest of Jacksonville. 

The center for the gross farm incomes is twenty-five miles 
south of Jacksonville. 

The center of six cereals besides corn, wheat, and oats is 
near Quincy. 

Thus Illinois contains eleven agricultural centers out of 
a list of seventeen. 

Illinois ranked second in the value of farm products in 
1900, the total value for this State being $345,000,000. She 
ranked first in the value of farm lands, improvements, live 



532 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



stock, and farm implements, the total for Illinois being $2,- 
000,000,000. 

603. Illinois Farmers' Institute. — This organization is a 
powerful factor in the work of advancing the agricultural in- 




The Johnson County Corn Club. 

The membership is over 300. Similar clubs are organized in many other counties 
under the direction of the County Farmers' Institute. 



terests of the State. It is now under the efficient direction of 
Dr. Frank Hall, of Aurora. The Institute is greatly stimu- 
lating the farmers, stockmen, and fruit-growers. Everywhere 
better residences are being constructed, better barns built, 
and better care is being taken of stock and farm machinery. 
Meetings are held annually in each county to which the pro- 
ducts of orchards, field, dairy, and garden are brought for 
exhibition and encouragement. 

A most encouraging feature of this movement is the alli- 
ance between the Farmers' Institute and the public schools; 
and without doubt these two are the most powerful secular 
agencies now at work for the dissemination of knowledge and 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



533 



the inculcation of correct views as to the dignity of honest 
toil, and the training of a virtuous and patriotic citizenship. 

604. Mining. — Thirty-seven thousand square miles of the 
State are underlaid with a fine quality of bituminous coal. 
So important has the State regarded the mining interests 
that the legislature has passed laws touching every phase of 
this important industry. 

The State is divided into seven Inspection Districts. Each 
district has an inspector who sees that the laws are obeyed. 
The legislation looks to the matter of the safety of life and 
to that end requires competent engineers, bosses and inspec- 
tors, sanitation, means of escape, hours of labor, etc. 

In 1904 there were mined in Illinois 37,077,897 tons of 
coal. The largest output from one mine was from the "South- 
ern Illinois Coal Mining and Washing Co. No. 3," Marion, 
Williamson county, which raised 198.794 tons. There are 
nearly 55,000 men employed in the mining industry. 

605. Manufacturing. — Illinois is by no means the first 
state in manufacturing. She ranks fourth in the amount of 
capital invested in this industry, which in 1900 was $760,- 




The Deere & Co. Moline Plow Works, Moline, 111. 
One of the largest plow and cultivator factories in the United States. 



534 



A Student's History of Illinois. 



000,000. Twenty-four per cent of our people are engaged in 
manufacturing. 

Illinois produces $13,000,000 worth of dairy products and 
ranks fourth among the states. She is second in the produc- 
tion of liquor ; second in the manufacture of clothing ; fifth 
in flour and other grists; first in meat-packing with an an- 
nual output of $280,000,000. Although we have no iron 
mines in the State we rank third in iron and steel output. We 
turn out annually $42,500,000 worth of agricultural imple- 
ments, which is forty-five per cent of the entire production in 
the United States. Illinois ranks second in construction and 
repairs of railroad cars; fifth in wagons and carriages; sec- 
ond in books, newspapers, etc. Illinois ranks third (on an 
average) in eleven of the great lines of manufacturing includ- 
ing capital invested. We rank fourth in clay industry. One 
factory, "The White Hall Sewer Pipe and Stoneware Com- 
pany," consumes annually 40,000 tons of clay, which is made 
into 3,000 car loads of the finished product. 













"**#• jf* ..*-- 




w*> 




- ^£p>' Jt? 


mi 





The Works of the White Hall Sewer Pipe and Stone Ware Co. 



Not without thy wondrous story, 
Can be writ the nation's glory, 
Illinois ! Illinois ! 



INDEX. 



Numbers refer to sections, not to pages. 



Section 

Abbot, Governor 151 

Abolitionists 334. 475 

Advocate, Republican 252 

Agriculture 5» 18, 606 

Ako, Michael 7° 

Albion 222 

Aliens 383 

Allen's Prairie 8 

Algonquins 36 

Alliance, Champlain's 38 

Alliance, the French 124 

Allouez, Father 49, 67 

Alton, Booming 320 

Alton rival of St. Louis 445 

Altgeld, Governor 384, 385 

American Bottom 190 

American Party 483 

Ames, Bishop 394 

Analysis of kaolin 12 

Andrew, Governor 543 

Anguel, Anthony 70 

Anglo-Saxons 23, 604 

Animals in Illinois 52 

Anti-administration 565 

Anti-Nebraska Convention .... 477 

Anti-Nebrasl a Party 475 

Anti-Slavery Societies 331, 384 

Appeal, Lovejoy's 349 

Appeals, anti-convention 247 

Appropriations 367 

Area, coal 19 

Area, state's 2 

Architecture, Altgeld 587 

Army, Clark's 123 

Army disbanded 304 

Army of thirty-day men 305 

Army re-organized 132 

Assembly, second 209 

Association, Teacher's 467, 472 

Atkinson, General 274, 301 

Authority in Illinois 93 



Sectio n 

Badgley, Rev. David 193 

Badgley settlement 276 

Bailey's Point 8 

Baker, Col. Fdward 436, 524 

Balloting for president 509 

Bank and branches 210 

Bank, management of 267 

Bank of Cairo 188 

Bank, State 294 

Banking 318, 456 

Bank, United States 321 

Bank in politics 327 

Banks, the 188, 404 



Chicago 



390 



[93. 



76 



Baptists 

Baptists 

Baptisms by priests 

Barney's Prairie 8 

Barre, Sieur de La 74 

Battle of Lake Champlain 36 

Battle of Wisconsin river 309 

Battle of Bad Axe 311 

Battles of Civil War 549 

Bear Prairie 8 

Beauchamp, Reverend 285 

Beaver skins 109 

Beecher, Dr. Edward 395 

Bell, Captain 230 

Benjamin, Judah P 497 

Bennett, Dr. John C 4 10 

Beveridge, Governor 567, 570 

Bienville 75, 97 

Biggs, William 158 

Big Muddy 276 

Bineteau, Father 78 

Birckbeck, Morris 221, 248 

Bishop killed 35 2 

Bissell, Governor 437, 484, 500 

Bissell-Davis duel 486 

Black Hawk ....296, 308, 310, 312 

Black Gown 76 

Black-smiths 100 



536 



Index. 



Section 

Blair, Governor 343 

Block-houses 173, 178 

Bloomington Convention 480 

Blue Point 8 

Board trees 7 

Board of public works 373 

Boat constructed by LaSalle. . 69 

Boat-men 87 

Boggs, Dr. John C 410 

Boisbriant, Lieutenant 82, 93 

Bond, Governor 184, 202 

Bonds 371 

Boone, Daniel 118 

Boonesboro 118 

Boundary of Illinois 1, 197 

Bounty lands 280 

Breese, Judge Sidney 208, 448 

Brich, Rev. John 286 

Bridges, roads, etc 361 

British depart 117 

British posts 119 

Brotherton, Miss 415 

Brown's history 415 

Brown's Point 8 

Buena Vista 437 

Buford, Gen. Napoleon B 550 

Burned at the stake 149 

Burned district in Chicago.... 565 

Cabots, the 24 

Cahokia 76, 78, 86, 130 

Cairo occupied 530 

Cairo, low water mark of 3 

Cameron, Simon 502 

Campaign of 1838 378 

Campaign of 1862 566 

Campaign of 1876 570 

Campaigns in Illinois in 1812. 181 

Campaign of 1830 290 

Campaign, a bitter 245 | 

Camp-meetings 387 

Canal, drainage 581 

Canal, grants for 357, 563 

Canal begun 366 

Canal completed 360 

Canal plan 406 

Canal receipts and expenditures 360 

Canal-scrip fraud 499 

Candidate, a willing 289 

Canton prairie 8 

Canvass of 1842 401 

Canvass of 1834 .•••• 316 



Section 

Capital removed 206, 370,379 

Capitol completed 556 

Capitol, the new 208, 380 

Captains in Clark's army 123 

Carlin, Governor 376, 378 

Carpenter, Philo 389 

Carr, Col. Llark E 534 

Carthage 416 

Cartier 34 

Carrollton 285 

Cartwright, Rev. Peter 388 

Casey, Zadoc ....278, 287, 291, 314 

Catholics 192 

Catholics in Chicago 391 

Cattle 87 

Census in 18 18 199 

Centers of population 275 

Centers of agriculture 606 

Cerre, John Gabriel 156 

Cession by Virginia 152 

Cession tor canal 356 

Challenged to a duel 486 

Champlain 37, 42 

Champlain, Lake 36 

Changes, desirable 440 

Character of English settlers.. 228 

Character, the mixed 112 

Charges against Mormons.... 417 

Charles II 30 

Charles Mound 3 

Charlevoix, Father 87 

Charter for La Salle 93 

Charter for railroad 449 

Charter for I. C. R. R 452 

Charter for Nauvoo 411 

Charters for colleges 490 

Charter annulled 30 

Charter, Massachusetts 32 

Charter of 1 609 29 

Charter, Raleigh's 25 

Charter of 1606 27 

Charter of Connecticut 31 

Chase, Salmon P 50a 

Chassin, Judge 93 

Chicago 76, 539 

Chicago, canal begun in 366 

Chicago, churches in 389 

Chicago portage 61 

Chickasaw Bluffs 73 

Choate, David 285 

Choctaw Bend 58 



Index. 



537 



Section 

Christian Commission 545 

Church, the 89, 109 

Churches 386, 613 

Cities in 1840 384 

Civil districts in Louisiana.... 93 

Civil service 599 

Claim-jumpers 398 

Clark, Father 288 

Clark, George R 

118, 120, 125, 143, 184 

Classes of men, three 40 

Climate 6, 18 

Cloud, Newton 440 

Coal g, 19 

Cobbett, William 220 

Code, the Black 204 

Coles, Governor 237 

College, Illinois 285 

College at Kaskaskia 90 

Colleges granted charters 467 

Collins, Col. James . 437 

Colonists, class of 28, 34 

Colonists perish 28 

Colonists, English 113 

Colonization 26, 34 

Commandants in Illinois 95 

Commerce 20 

Commissioners, fund 325, 373 

Commons 85 

Common lands 93 

Company, the Western 

82, 92, 93, 450 

Company, Cairo 449 

Conditions in England 219 

Conditions in America 218 

Conditions in Illinois in 1786.. 156 

Confederacy, Indian 21 

Conflict, the coming 299 

Confusion in Kaskaskia 129 

Confusion in Washington 521 

Congress at Sault Ste. Marie. 46 
Constitutional Convention. .199, 523 

Constitution of 1848 438 

Constitution revised 559 

Convention call defeated 439 

Convention, Salem 445 

Convention of 1858, Democratic 489 

Convention, educational 466 

Convention of 1858, Republican 490 
Convention of i860, Rep. State 506 



Section 
Convention of i860, Rep. Nat. 508 
Convention of i860, Dem. Nat. 510 
Conventions, National ....164, 541 
Convention of 1818, Const.... 199 
Convention, improvement. .365, 367 

Cook, Daniel P 240, 265 

Cooper Institute speech 504 

Cooper, Peter 446 

Copper 49 

Copper ornaments 22 

Corn laws 219 

Corn Island 122 

Cost of building I. C. R. R.. 451 

Council of Virginia 29 

Council, Inferior 93 

Council, the Provincial 93 

Counterfeiting 425 

Counties cre.-.ted 155, 187, 384 

Country around Vandalia .... 257 

County of Illinois 133 

Courcelles 47 

Courts 268, 429 

Court, Appellate 572 

Court abolished, Circuit 268 

Court enlarged, Supreme 383 

Covenanters 195 

Craig, Captain 281 

Crevecceur 69, 71, 73 

Credit of R. R 377 

Crozat 81, 92, 93, 282 

Cullom, Shelby M 512, 570 

Curtin, Governor 543 

Customs 108 

Cutler, Rev. Manasseh 154 

Dablon, Father 49 

Davie, grant to 84 

Davis, David 503, 572 

Dead-lock, the 578 

Dead, names of 303 

DeArtaguette 95 

Debate, Lincoln-Douglas 492 

Debit 377 

Debt, out of 575 

Debt, the public 464 

Declaration of Independence.. 115 

Deer-skins 87 

Defenses, the 178 

Delegates to convention of 1848 440 

DeLhut 70 

DeLoup ,/,,„,,,,,,, 67 



538 



Index. 



Section 

Democrats 535, 536 

Democratic State Convention 

of 1856 478 

Democrats, Independent 475 

Demountbrun 150 

Deneen, Governor 597 

Deposits 322 

Depreciation of bank-bills 213 

Des Plaines river 67 

Des Ursins 84 

Detroit 119, 143 

Diamond Grove Prairie 8 

Diamond Grove 285 

Disorders around Nauvoo 420 

Disorders, Civil 408 

Disorders in Illinois 548 

Dividing line 4 

Dodge, Rev. Josiah 193 

D'Olbeau, Father 36 

Doniphan, General 4°8 

Douglas, Stephen A 

368, 381, 463, 498, 507* 524. 525 

Draft, the 544 

Drainage 17 

Dred Scott 494 

Dress 196 

Dueling 485 

Duff, John 125 

Duncan, Gov 255, 265, 315, 364 

Dunn's Indiana 160 

Du Plessis, Father 37 

Dutch in New York 4 2 

Editor, the 385 

Editorial convention 479 

Education 90, 191, 392, 612 

Edwards, Ninian 264, 266, 473 

Edwards, Cyrus 467 

Electioneering methods 290 

Election of 1826 264 

Election, primary 601 

Elections 132 

Election, first under Const. . . . 201 

Election of 1818 573 

Ellis, Rev. John M 285, 395 

Emancipation 339, 535 

Embarras, the 14° 

Emigrants to Louisiana 82 

Emigration from England 221 

Employment in coal-fields.... 19 

Enabling Act 197, 198 

End of Flathead War 430 



Section 

End of Black Hawk War 312 

Engine, first 446 

England's claim 24 

English flag hoisted 112 

English settlers 39 

Episcopal Church in Chicago.. 391 

Equality 277 

Erie, Lake 2,7 

Ernst, Ferdinand 207, 257 

Evanston 31 

Ewing, Governor 314 

Exemption from debt 544 

Expedition down Mississippi... 72 

Expenditures expressed 375 

Explanation, the 254 

Explorations by French S3, 48 

Explorations retarded 42 

Exposition 416 

Farewell, Lincoln's 522 

Farming 106 

Far West, city of 408 

Father of Waters 52 

Fell, Jesse W 505 

Fences, rail 7 

Ferries 361 

Fever, yellow 80 

Fifer, Governor 580 

Finley, Rev. John E 195 

Fire, Chicago 565 

Fishermen, French 33 

Flatheads 424 

Fleur de lis 4o 

Flour 87, 96 

Flower, George 221 

Flower, Richard 223 

Fluor spar 13 

Ford's opinion 382 

Ford, Governor 366, 400 

Forests 7 

Forts 43 1 

Forts, chain of 64, 69, 79 

Fort Armstrong 142 

Fort Chartres 83, 98 

Fort Clark settlement 281 

Fort Dearborn massacre 180 

Fort Duquesne 99 

Fort Frontenac 63 

Fort Gage 1 17 

Fort Jefferson 143 

Fort Massac 99 

Fort Miami 142 



Index. 



539 



Section 

Fort Necessity 99 

Fort Prudhomme 73 

Fort Russell 181 

Fort Sackville 126 

Fort Snelling 274 

F'ort St. Louis 73, 74 

Fort Sumter 525, 528 

Four Mile Prairie 8 

Fourteen Mile Prairie 8 

Fox river 51, 67 

Franciscan Order 37 

Free banking 459 

Freedom of speech and press.. 332 

Freeman, Jonathan 248 

Fremont, John C 483 

Freeport Doctrine 496 

Free Soilers 475 

French in lake region 41 

French in Ohio valley 97 

French, Governor 432 

French settlers 39 

French influence 23 

Frontenac, Count 47 

Fry, Jacob 270 

Fulton county 280 

Funeral of Lincoln 554 

Funk, Senator 539 

Furniture, home-made 7 

Fur trade 36, 39, 63 

F'ur traders 40 

Galena 274, 282 

Gallatin, Albert 355 

Game laws 592 

Garrison, William Lloyd 334 

Gas, natural 15 

Gazette, Shawneetown 248 

Gazette, Illinois 252 

Gazetteer, Pecks 205, 257 

Georgian Bay 41 

Gibault, Father 129, 131, 151 

Gifts to Illinois 198, 207, 232 

Gilbert, Humphrey 24 

Gillespie, Judge Joseph 57 

Gist, Christopher 97 

Glacial drift 5 

Glacial invasion 4 

Glaciated area 4 

Godfrey, Gillman & Co 380 

Gold, search for 28 

Golden Circle 546 

Goshen 276 



Section 

Government, civil 23 

Government in French villages 91 
Government under the Fnglish 114 

Government, local 159 

Government, organized in 111. 184 

Governors, the War 543 

Grand Prairie 3, 8 

Grand Tower 58 

Grange, the 568 

Grant of land to Illinois 450 

Grant, Ulysses S 531 

Grants, Indian 111 

Grants, land 116 

Grave marked, Lovejoy's 354 

Gravier, Father ,76 

Green Bay 41, 44 

Greene county 285 

Greys, the 418 

Grierson, Gen. Benj 550 

Griffin, the 65, 66 

Groseilliers 45 

Grosvenor, General 565 

Ground, common 476 

Growing country 189 

Growth of country 384 

Growth, rapid 365 

Haines, Elijah M 369 

Llaldiman, General 135 

Half Moon Lick 230, 236 

Hall, Judge James 263 

Hamilton, Gov. Henry ....135, 142 
Hamilton, Gov. John M....... 574 

Hansen, Nicholas 243 

Hardin, Col. John J 437 

Hardships 141 

Hard times 210 

Hardy, Reverend 286 

Harrison, Gov. William H..159, 160 

Harrodsburg 118 

Heald, Captain 180 

Helm, Captain 143 

Hennepin, Father 67, 70 

Henry, Gov. Patrick 118 

Henry, General 313 

Herndon, William 482, 490 

Highest point in Illinois 3 

Hillsboro convention 445 

Home, the new 224 

Homestead law 444 

House divided, A 491 

Houses in French villages .... 107 



540 



Index. 



Section 

Houses in Kaskaskia 76 

Howe, Reverend 285 

Hubbard, Adolphus 264 

Hulme, Thomas 226 

Humus 5 

Hundred Associates, the 44 

Hunting 108 

Hurlbut, Gen. Stephen A 550 

Huron Indians 36 

Hutchens, Thomas 153 

Iberville 79 

Icarians, the 423 

Ice sheet, the first 4 

Ideas, three dominant 39 

Idols, stone 222 

Illini, the 223 

Illinois, size of 2 

Illinois, the 50, 53 

Illinois college 395 

Illinois neglected 146 

Illinois Territory 173 

Illinois river 59 

Illinois and Michigan Canal Co. 357 

Illinois Central R. R 446, 448 

Illinois confederacy 21 

Illinois in congress 593 

Illinois R. R., first 447 

Illinois Central asks for charter 450 

Illinois military heroes 550 

Immaculate Conception 

50, 61, 67, 76 

Immigrants 23, 80, 82 

Immigration 167, 187, 189 

Inaugurated, Lincoln 524 

Income from I. C. R. R 453 

Indenture 168, 169 

Indebtedness in 1842 402 

Independence, Missouri 407 

Indiana Territory ....159, 160, 172 

Indians 21 

Indian buffalo 22 

Indian country no 

Indigenous growths 7 

Industry 87 

Industries of 1800 190 

Inspection, factory 593 

Institutional life, French 40 

Institutional life 602 

Institutes, county teachers'.... 470 
Institutes, farmers' . .471, 595, 607 
Instructions 120 



Section 

Intelligencer, Illinois 252 

Internal improvement ....361, 435 

Interpretation of charter 30 

Invasion by Black Hawk 301 

Inventory, the 103 

Iroquois 36, 38, 42, 75 

I ron 14 

Isotherm 6 

Jackson men 474 

Jamay, Father t>7 

Jefferson, Thomas 120 

Jefferson county 287 

Jenkins, A. M 448 

Jesuits 49 

Jo Daviess county 282 

Johnson, James 283 

Joques, Father 41 

Joliet, Louis 49, 60 

Jones, Elder 288 

Jones, Gabriel 118 

Jonesboro college 397 

Journal, school 468 

Journey to Washington, Lin- 
coln's 523 

Jubilee college 396 

Judd, Norman B 505 

Kane county convention 476 

Kane, Elias K 208 

Kankakee Portage 61, 67 

Kankakee river 31 

Kaolin 12 

Kaskaskia river 58 

Kaskaskia, village of. 60, 67, 68, 76 

Kaskaskia, life in 77 

Kaskaskia 86, 275, 276, 583 

Kaskaskia without Bibles 195 

Kellogg, Elisha 279 

Kellogg's Grove, battles of. 306, 307 

Kentucky county 119 

Kickapoo Indians 51 

Kidnapping 429 

Kilpatrick, Thomas M 432 

King Williams war 79 

King, Captain 548 

Kinney, William 264 

Kinzie, John 180 

Kirkwood, Governor 543 

Knights of Golden Circle 546 

Know-Nothing Party 475 

Kcerner, Gustavus 462 

Laborers, skilled 109 



Ijide x. 



541 



Section 

Laclede, Pierre 102 

LaChine 63 

La Fayette 238, 258-263 

Lake Michigan 17 

LaMotte 65 

Land nnce of 215, 217, 450 

Land offices 175 

La Sane 63-74 

Lathing 7 

Laurent, Father 88 

Law, William 416 

Laws, early 185 

Law, primary 599 

Law executed 149 

Law, John 82, 93 

Lead 10 

Le Caron, Father 37 

Lee's Resolution 151 

Leeper, Judge John 286 

Legal tender 212 

Legion, military 410, 411 

Legislation 214, 255, 379,463 

Legislature of '61 527 

Legislature, first 184, 202 

Legislature, extra session of . . 529 

Le Seuer 10 

Liberality of congress 451 

Liberty Party 333 

License, high 576 

Lilies of France 62 

Lillard, Rev. Joseph 194 

Lime 16 

Lincoln, Abraham 

5i9, 554, 503, 518 

Lippincott, Reverend 286, 353 

Loess 5 

Logan, Stephen T 504 

Logan, John A 487, 550, 574 

Loss of life 552 

Lost speech 482 

Louisiana 79, 82 

Lovejoy 336-352 

Louis XVIII 238 

Lowest Point in Illinois 3 

Lusson, Saint 46 

Macarty, Chevalier de 98 

Mackinaw 38 

Madison, President 355 

Magna Charta 444 

Maillet founds Peoria 281 

Mamelle, the 141 



Section 

Mandatory, Const, is 559 

Manufactures 606 

Map of Royal Grants 32 

Marest, Father Gabriel 76, 78 

Marquette 49-61 

Marriages in Old Kaskaskia... 77 

Maryland ratifies articles 151 

Mascoutins 51 

Mason, George 120 

Massacre on Wood river 182 

Mathews, Rev. John 285 

Matteson, Governor 462, 499 

McClernand, Gen. John A. 383, 550 

McCullough, J. S 455 

McKendree, Rev. William 194 

McKendree college 394 

McLean, John 211, 240 

Means, the 246 

Medill, Joseph 505 

Membre, Father 67, 73 

Menard, Father Rene 45 

Merchandise captured 140 

Message, Reynolds' 293 

Message, Duncan's 317 

Message favors improvement. . 363 

Message, Bissell's 484 

Metairie 67 

Methodists 194, 287 

Mexican war 336 

Miamis 51 

Militia, French 117 

Milwaukee 389 

Minerals, search for 83 

Mineral wealth 81 

Mining 605 

Missionaries 286 

Mission at Green Bay 51 

Mission, St. Mary's 49 

Missions founded 37 

Mission, St. Sulpice 78 

Mississippi river 17, 50, 52 

Mob, a 342-352 

Mobile founded 79 

Mohawk Indians 36 

Monastery at Kaskaskia 90 

Monmouth 11 

Monso, treachery of 68 

Montagnais Indians 36 

Monument, Lovejoy's 354 

Montreal 32, 389 

Moreau, a slave 149 



542 



Index. 



Section 

Mormons 422-434 

Mounds, Indian 22 

Mt. Vernon 278 

Muddy Point 8 

Murder of Smiths 418 

National Banks 461 

Nauvoo, city of 410 

Nauvoo House 411 

Negroes 83, 171 

Newby, (Jol. W. B 437 

New Chartres 86 

New Design 193, 194 

New Orleans 87 

Newspapers . .335, 352, 385 

New York plan of banking.... 451 

Niagara Falls 65 

Niagara river 38 

Nicolet, Jean 41 

Niles' Register 353 

Nine, Long 370 

Normal schools 446, 488, 588 

Northern Cross R. R 377 

Oath of office 485 

Observer, Alton 344 

Observer moved 341 

Officers in Illinois 94 

Oglesby, Governor 505, 531-551 

Ogle's Prairie 8 

Ohio, down the 122 

Ohio Land Co 97> *53 

Ohio river 17 

Olivier, Father 261 

Oneida, Lake 38 

Opposition to La Salle 64 

Orators of 1840 381 

Organization of Illinois county 148 
Organizing govt, under Ordi- 
nance 153-155 

Ottawa river 38 

Ottawa country 42 

Outlaws 398 

Outlook, brighter 407 

Ozarks 4, 16 

Palmer, Gov 505, 550, 557 

Palmy days 235 

Pardons, Board of 589 

Paris 285 

Parties 474 

Party, Independent 568 

Pastimes 88 

Peace 43 



Section 

Peace commission 537 

Peace pipe 53 

Peck, Rev. J. M 249, 276, 467 

Peck's Gazetteer 8 

Penitentiary, the first 269 

Penitentiary commission 271 

People, the 23 

Peoria 69, 28 1 

Peoria lake 68 

Peoria Indians 78 

Petition to Lovejoy 340 

Petition, slavery 164-167 

Petroleum 15 

Piasa bird 22, 55, 56 

Pictures 22 

Pike county in 1824 244, 280 

Pillory 269 

Pinet, Father 78 

Pipe line 234 

Piper's Point 8 

Pittman, Captain 117 

Pittsburg Landing 533 

Platforms 476-509 

Policy reversed, improvement.. 377 

Policy, State 445 

Politics in 1832 314 

Politics, Mormons in 410 

Polygamy 415 

Ponies, French 130 

Pontiac 1 o 1 , 104 

Pope, Gen. John 550 

Pope, Judge Nathaniel. 197, 232, 356 

Population in 1800 160 

Portage, Wisconsin 51 

Portage, Chicago 355 

Porter, Rev. Jeremiah 389 

Pottery works 11 

Pottery, Indian 22 

Prairie areas 8 

Prairie, lost in 127 

Prairie, the English 222 

Prairie du Rocher 85, 86, 275 

Preamble to Constitution 560 

Pre-emption laws 186 

Pre-historic 22 

Prentiss, Gen. Benj. M 550 

Presbyterians 195, 285 

President, a Democratic 577 

Presidential possibilities 502 

Presses, Lovejoy's 342-355 

Price of land 175 



Index, 



543 



Section 

Prices, current 225 

Prices in Chicago in '36 359 

Price of coal 19 

Primary law 599 

Prince, a temporal 414 

Problems, unfinished 433 

Proces Verbal 93 

Proclamations. 72, 103, in, 141, 145 

Products, farm 18 

Property, value of farm 18 

Prorogued, the legislature 540 

Prosperity 464 

Province, a Royal 94 

Provisions in Constitution.... 

200, 441, 564 

Puncheon floor 7 

Quarries 16 

Q uebec 34. 35 

Quebec Act 115 

Questions in Lincoln-Douglas 

debate 495 

Radisson 44 

Rail-splitter, the 515 

Railioad, the first 444 

R. R. from Meredosia to Jack- 
sonville 449 

R. R. building 20 

Randolph county created 157 

Rangers I77 

Ratification of Const 442, 533 

Raum, John 428 

Rawlings Hotel 286 

Raymbault, Father 41 

Recess of legislature 538 

Re-consideration, a 244 

Records, parish 77, 88 

Redemption of bank notes 460 

Redemption extension 324 

Referendum 458 

Regulators 424, 428 

Religion 284, 386 

Remonstrance 345 

Rendezvous in Black Hawk 

' vrr 302 

Renault 83, 84,282 

Reports, school 470 

Representation, minority 561 

Reservations for salt works... 231 

Retaliation upon Indians 185 

Return of La Salle 73 

Revenue 205 



Section 

Reynolds, Governor 

269, 291, 292, 362, 463 

Ribourde, Father 67 

Richardson, William A 483 

Rigdon, Sidney 406 

Riggs, Rev. Hosea 194 

Right, Constitutional 341 

Rights, bill of 560 

Riot 4I 6 

Riot, Hay-market 579 

River, the great 47 

Roberval, Lord 34 

Roads 362 

Rocheblave 117, 132, 146 

Rock Springs Seminary 276 

Route of Marquette and Joliet 50 

Route to Kaskaskia 126 

Route to Vincennes 139 

Routes of travel to west 218 

Rosiclare 13 

Russell, Prof. John 395 

Russell, Col. William 177 

Sacs and Foxes 297 

Saint Anthony 70 

Saint, the patron 51 

Saint Phillipe, village of... 84, 86 

Saint Cosme 76 

St. Ange 95, 101 

Salaries 205 

Salomon, Governor 543 

Salt 8, 190, 230, 233, 271 

Sanders, the guide 127 

Sandstone 16 

Sangamon country 256, 279 

Sanitary commission 545 

Saukenuk 299 

Saw mills 7 

Sawyer, John Y 448 

School legislation 

255, 272, 273, 462, 466 

Schools, early 191 

Scofield, Gen. J. M 550 

Sea to Sea grant 29 

Second class territory 170 

Secession 520 

Selby, Paul 449 

Session, extra 203 

Settlements 105, 116, 176 

Settlers at lead mines 283 

Settlers in Kentucky 118 

Seven mile Prairie 8 



544 



Index. 



Section 

Seward, William 502 

Shaw, John 243 

Shawneetown 277, 286 

Sheridan, General 565 

Simpson, Rev. John 193 

Slavery agitation 465 

Slavery in Illinois 83, 161, 162 

Slaves 80, 82, 330 

Slaves freed by Gov. Coles.... 239 

Sloan, Judge 427 

Sloo, Thomas 264 

Slope of land 3 

Smith, Gen. Giles A 550 

Smith, Joseph 406-421 

Smith, Rev. James 193 

Snow, Rev. C. G 468 

Snow, the deep 295 

Snyder, Adam W 399 

Societies, Secret 251 

Society 88, 196,398 

Soils 5 

Sovereignty, Squatter 493 

Spaniards 158 

Speakers 251 

Speaking, public 250 

Specie circular 323 

Spectator, Ldwardsville 252 

Spies 119 

Squatters 286 

Start, the 121 

Starved Rock 71 

St. Clair, General 155 

St. Clair county 157 

Stead, W. H 454 

Stealing horses 426 

St. Ignace Mission 49, 50 

Still hunt 578 

Stillman's defeat 303 

St. Louis Times 336 

St. Louis Observer 338 

St. Louis 102 

Stirling, Captain 112 

Stockholders liable 456 

Stock subscribed 319 

Stone, building 16 

Stone implements 2Z 

Storms 6 

Story, an unparalleled 140 

Strikes 579-586 

Stuart, John T 381 

Sturdevant 425 



Section 
Submerged lands ............. 558 

Substitute 544 

Sunday school, first 285 

Supt. of Public Instruction.... 

468, 472 

Surface 3 

Surprise, the 128 

Surrender, the 143 

Surrender of posts no 

Surveys 229 

Suspension of specie payment. 326 

Swapping work 196 

Swearing 196 

Swett, Leonard 505 

Swine 87 

Talon, intendant 46, 49 

Tamaroa Indians 72, 76 

Tanner, Governor 588 

Tanneries 190 

Taxation for schools 473 

Taxes, back 600 

Tax on Illinois products 445 

Taylor, General 181, 537 

Teachers examined 473 

Tebo, first settler in Pike Co.. 280 

Temple, the Mormon 409 

Terra cotta clay 11 

Thanks to Clark, vote of 134 

Thomas, Jesse B 243 

Thompson, S. H 264 

Three Rivers 42 

Tillson, John 286 

Timbered area 7 

Toasts 250, 262 

Tod, Governor 343 

Todd, Col. John 132-150 

Tonawanda Creek 65 

Tonty 64, 74, 75 

Tortugas Islands 548 

Town officers 443 

Trade paralyzed 42 

Transportation facilities 20 

Treaties. ... 100, 135, 160, 298, 300 

Trial by jury 114 

Troops, character of 302 

Troops, additional 535 

Troops, call for 530 

Turkey Hill 194, 285 

Turner, Jonathan 467 

Underground R. R 465 

Unglaciated areas 4 



Index, 



545 



Section 

Unity, lack of 533 

University of Illinois 471, 55 6 

Valuation of I. C. R. R 455 

Value of lead output 10 

Vancil's Point 8 

Vandalia, the capital. 207, 279, 286 

Veto of improvement bill 372 

Vigo, services of 137 

Milages, French 86 

Villiers, INieyon 99 

Vincennes 136, 138, 171 

Virginia, help from 119 

Vote of 1824 253 

Voting, accumulative 5 6-2 

Voyages 224 

Wabash, Clark crosses 140, 141 

Walker, Rev. Jesse 191 

Wanborough 221 

Wars 80, 96, 99, 177. *79, 300 

War governors 543 

War, phases of 543 

Washington captured 99 

Water-shed 99 

Water-ways 3 

Watt's Prairie 8 

Wells, Captain 180 



Section 

Wentworth, John 385. 503 

W est, growth of 217 

Whipping post, the 270 

White city, the 582 

Widows of tne war 547 

Wiggins loan 294 

Wild Cat Banks 461 

Wilkins, Col. John 114 

Will, Conrad 276 

Willard, Dr. Samuel 191 

Willing, the 138, 143 

Wilson, Judge William 255 

Winnebagoes 44 

Winnebago war 274 

Wood, Governor 501 

Woods, William 227 

Wool 87 

World's Fair 582 

Wright, John S 469 

Xavier, Father 49 

Yale University 285 

Yates, Sr., Gov. Richard 

506, 526, 534, 543, 552 

Yates, Jr., Gov. Richard 594 

Young, 'Rev. Benjamin 194 

Young, Brigham 415 



SEP 84 Itt* 



LIBRARY 



CONGRESS 




